Marielle Smith (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Women and the Minister for Finance, Senator Gallagher. Yesterday, the minister announced an investment of more than half a billion dollars to deliver more choice, lower costs and better health care for Australian women. What will this policy deliver for women, and how will it reduce their healthcare costs?

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Smith for the question and acknowledge the huge input she has had into the policy that was announced on the weekend. I include all of my colleagues in that, particularly the women members of the federal government—the first majority-women government in Australia's history, which we are incredibly proud of.

This announcement is the result of the work of all women in our caucus and many women around the country. For the last two years the Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, Ged Kearney, has been consulting with the National Women's Health Advisory Council, which she established, on areas of unaddressed need for further consideration by government. With the work we've done on repairing the budget and getting rid of the waste and rorts of the former administration, we have been able to find over half a billion dollars to prioritise women's health in this country. That will make a huge difference for not only hundreds of thousands of women right now but millions of women as these changes go on.

We are seeing the new listing of the most commonly used contraceptive pills, Yaz and Yasmin, which will save hundreds of dollars a year for a woman who's using them. The PBS listing of Prometrium, Estrogel and Estrogel Pro, common menopause hormone therapies, will save women using those treatments up to $290 a year or up to $577 if they have a concession card. These PBS listings will take effect from 1 March, just three weeks from today, meaning women will start to see those savings right away.

This is the first listing of new oral contraceptives in 30 years and first listing of a new menopause hormone therapy in 20 years, and it's because of the Labor government. (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Marielle Smith, first supplementary?

Marielle Smith (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, this package is what Australian women have been asking for, and I know it will make a real difference to hundreds of thousands of women right now. It's about more choice, lower costs and better care. Minister, how will the centres of excellence and the pelvic pain and endo clinics further assist women?

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Smith for the question and for her advocacy, particularly in relation to perimenopause and menopause services across the country. The new investment will expand the network of endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics from 22 to 33. They are incredibly popular, and there will be 11 new clinics in total. I know the one in the ACT already has a waiting list, so these are incredibly needed services.

Existing clinics will receive increased funding to provide care for perimenopause and menopause—again, due to the Senate advocacy work that Senator Smith did—creating a national network of 33 clinics providing support for women with perimenopause or menopause symptoms. We know that these clinics work, because the demand is so high. Since their commencement, there have been 7,452 visitations. We'll also have centres of excellence to make sure of GP training, which is so critical to women receiving the support they need close to where they live. (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Marielle Smith, second supplementary?

Marielle Smith (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, these investments in women's health are just part of the priority focus that the Albanese Labor government has placed on addressing measures that support women. How does this package work in with the other investments in cost-of-living assistance for women that our government is making?

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Smith is right; this women's health package is part of a broader piece of work that the Albanese government has prioritised, whether it be in women's safety; in sharing and valuing care and the care economy; in women's wages; in access to paid parental leave; in women's health, with this incredibly important package; or in women's sport. We are coming to support women in every different way that we can, because we know that, when women get a fair opportunity, it's better for the whole economy.

Of course, having investments in Medicare and urgent care clinics is also really important, as is making sure that we see a stop in the fall in bulk-billing that we inherited from those opposite. These have all been an important part of our focus on women, because we know that, when women are supported in the economy, the economy does better overall.