Maria Kovacic (NSW, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to speak in support of this reference to the Community Affairs References Committee—a committee which I sit on. The coalition supports this referral and the importance of investigating the economic, social and health impacts of menopause in the Australian community. Around one in five women experience severe or prolonged menopause symptoms. I'm a 53-year-old woman. I've been in menopause for two years, and I suffered for many, many years prior with perimenopause. This goes to the comments by Senator Marielle Smith about open and honest conversations. We shouldn't be afraid to talk about our experiences.

Recently, in an ADHD inquiry in Melbourne, we were discussing the theme around the way women are diagnosed and misdiagnosed when they go to a GP or any particular type of doctor. At that hearing, I said that, as a woman going through menopause, I know exactly what that feels like. A different lens is placed on you as a result. Given that half the planet will go through menopause, we should be talking about it rather than pretending that it doesn't exist. But that's perhaps another, different inquiry. Little did I know that it was already afoot. I would really like to thank Senators Waters and Marielle Smith for bringing forward this motion. I think it will be some very important work. I'm personally grateful for it, and I think there will be many, many women who will also be grateful for that.

Most women in Australia over the age of 51 will experience menopause. That means over 4.5 million Australian women are currently experiencing or have experienced menopause. The coalition understands that working to achieve gender equality in all areas—from health to financial security, safety and wellbeing—is the best way to achieve real outcomes. The former coalition government provided significant funding to initiatives supporting the maternal, sexual and reproductive health of Australian women and girls to support the National Women's Health Strategy 2020-2030. That strategy recognises that menopause transition can affect women's physical and mental health. In addition to that, menopause increases risks for future cardiometabolic health and is one of the critical life points experienced by women. We need to have a think about that. Women going through menopausal transition are at higher risk of mood changes and symptoms of depression and anxiety, which is why they are commonly and incorrectly prescribed antidepressants. They also experience hot flushes, joint and muscular pain, insomnia, brain fog, fatigue—and the list goes on. This can last up to 10 years.

I took a moment earlier today to have a look at what kind of information is out there. On the Australian government's Healthdirect website, there's a helpful guide that explains to those 4.5 million of us living with menopause how we can alleviate our symptoms. It recommends lifestyle changes to help ease symptoms of menopause, such as avoiding caffeine, alcohol and spicy foods, because they help reduce hot flushes—good to know! It recommends having a fan or air conditioning on where possible, because we can control that everywhere we go! It recommends dressing in layers that can you can easily remove if you're feeling hot and getting regular exercise, since this will help with your feelings and low mood. These are all things that we can control, every single day—as we are primary carers and as we go to work! In all our spare time, for 10 years, women are expected not only to manage their symptoms but to ensure that the spaces they enter are air conditioned, that the clothes they wear can be removed easily, that the foods they eat are appropriate and that they go for a run if they're feeling depressed. This is why it's important that we start discussing this issue. This information, while attempting to be helpful, is grossly inadequate. Because half the world's population is going to experience this problem, we must talk about it, and we must deal with it. Frankly, telling women to just suffer through it and take off their jacket is not enough. We need to understand that we require a conversation and further investment in women's health.

The former coalition government launched the Jean Hailes National Women's Health Survey, which found, amongst other key challenges in the healthcare needs of women and girls, that women want more information on menopause. They want better information on menopause. They want constructive information on menopause. We also note that there are examples of current investments into this important area that the committee could consider, including the New South Wales government model for supporting menopause services, towards which the Liberal government there committed more than $40 million funding in their 2022-23 budget.

As a member of the Community Affairs References Community, I anticipate this inquiry with great interest, and I look forward to speaking with a range of interested stakeholders, including women who are affected and who want better outcomes for their own health care and for that of their daughters as they grow in a country that should and can offer better outcomes for women.