Karen Grogan (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm so proud to be part of a government that is delivering for women. The announcement of half-a-billion dollars on the weekend for women's health is a game changer. SO many of us spend our lives talking to our mothers, sisters, daughters and friends about challenging conditions that we have faced—issues of menstruation, contraception, childbirth, pelvic pain and menopause. This women's package is going to make such a significant difference. We will see the first PBS listing for new oral contraceptive pills in more than 30 years. We will see more choice, lower costs and better access to long-term contraceptives. We will see larger Medicare payments and more bulk-billing for IUDs and birth-control implants and more endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics. There will also be more Medicare support for women experiencing menopause, with a new Medicare rebate for menopause health assessments. This is something that so many of my friends and I have spoken about over many years—actually finding people who can understand what it is you're dealing with and help you with the solutions. It's not just about dealing with the symptoms; it's not just about constantly being told that you should just put up with it because you're a woman of a certain age. This is about having a genuine impact on women's lives. So I'm absolutely delighted at this funding package and to be part of a government that really cares and has listened, in no small part, through the Senate inquiry conducted by my colleague Senator Marielle Smith. She and many of my colleagues in this chamber and the other place have done tireless work to bring to fruition funding that will provide accessible, quality health care for women.