A smile, though endometriosis is no laughing matter
Labor is preparing to introduce legislation to parliament this week which will cap the cost of prescriptions on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme to $25 from $31.60 from 2026.
Ahead of the bill being presented to the lower house, the prime minister and Health Minister Mark Butler on Tuesday hosted a group of women impacted by endometriosis to discuss the changes.
Endometriosis is a disease which tissue grows outside of the uterus, often causing severe pain.
Labor amended and made new listings for contraception, endometriosis and IVF on the PBS ahead of the federal election campaign this year.
Ms Walker told Mr Albanese chopping and changing between medications to manage chronic conditions quickly added up and was a hit to the hip pocket.
"For people who don't have chronic conditions, all of a sudden they could get a cancer diagnosis, something could happen, and that puts a lot of strain on families, so that helps ease that strain, and every little bit counts," she said.
Labor made health a centrepiece of its election campaign, pledging $8.5 billion to strengthen Medicare in a bid to make nine out of 10 visits to the GP free by 2030.
Pressed during Question Time about bulk billing rates, Mr Albanese pulled out a Medicare card, as he had often done on the campaign trail.
"The timeline hasn't changed, the investment is unchanged, the modelling is the same," the prime minister said.
Mr Butler also clarified the figures around expected uptake of an expanded bulk billing incentive following criticism rates would take years to improve.
But the health minister defended the government's modelling which expects fully bulk-billed practices to rise from about a quarter to three.
Mr Butler said about 23 per cent of practices were expected to continue mixed billing, meaning pensioners and kids would be bulk-billed while others might be charged a gap fee.
Opposition health spokeswoman Anne Ruston said people going to the doctor were paying out of pocket costs higher than what they had ever been.
"Right the way through the election campaign, the prime minister waving around his Medicare card and telling Australians and I quote, 'All you'll need is your Medicare card, not your credit card,' was actually misleading the Australian public about the reality that is currently our health care system at the moment," she told ABC's RN.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Perth Now
14 minutes ago
- Perth Now
Power hangs in the balance after snap poll
Tasmania has officially announced the results of its snap election, with declaration of the poll ceremonies held across the state on Tuesday morning. The events confirmed the 35 elected members of the House of Assembly with the final election writs expected to be returned to Governor Barbara Baker this week. Under the Constitution Act, Premier Jeremy Rockliff's Liberal ministry can remain in place for another week from that date, though an interim cabinet could be sworn in if no governing arrangement is reached. Premier Jeremy Rockliff's Liberal ministry can remain in place for a week after the election writs are returned to the Governor. NewsWire/ Nikki Davis-Jones Credit: News Corp Australia Two weeks of counting have wrapped up with no clear majority. The Liberals secured 14 seats, Labor 10, the Greens 5, and six went to independents and minor parties. The final seat, in Bass, was won by independent George Razay by just 674 votes over Labor's Geoff Lyons. The result leaves both major parties short of the 18 seats needed for a majority. To form government, the Liberals require support from four crossbenchers, Labor needs the Greens plus three others. Mr Rockliff has indicated he's prepared to govern in minority without formal confidence-and-supply agreements. 'Tasmanians have spoken. We have 14 seats, by far the most seats and while I would welcome individual members of parliament signing confidence and supply, we don't need that to form a minority government,' he said on Sunday. 'The political games need to stop and we have to get on with the job.' Mr Rockliff said on Sunday he would seek recommissioning of his government from the Governor. Labor leader Dean Winter is still hoping to form government. NewsWire / Richard Jupe Credit: News Corp Australia The snap election followed a dramatic no-confidence motion in June that ended Mr Rockliff's previous term, returning Tasmanians to the polls for the second time in 16 months. Labor leader Dean Winter claimed the botched rollout of new Spirit of Tasmania vessels, the state of the budget and the controversial Macquarie Point Stadium project were examples of Mr Rockliff's failed leadership.
Sky News AU
26 minutes ago
- Sky News AU
Penny Wong refuses to confirm whether she discussed Canberra woman charged with Chinese foreign interference with Beijing officials
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has refused to reveal whether she raised the case of a Chinese woman charged with foreign interference by the Australian Federal Police with Beijing officials. The AFP on Monday announced a Chinese woman had been charged with foreign interference over the alleged covert collection of sensitive information. The woman, an Australian permanent resident, was arrested and charged on Saturday after a series of police raids across Canberra. It is alleged the woman was acting on behalf of a public security bureau in China to secretly compile information about the Canberra Guan Yin Citta branch, a Buddhist sect that is outlawed in China. The woman is the third person to be charged under foreign interference laws that were rolled out in 2018, sparking concerns of rising tensions with China. Ms Wong on Tuesday morning repeatedly ruled out saying whether she or any government minister had broached the foreign interference case with Beijing officials and said Australia remained 'clear eyed' on China. 'I think we all are very clear eyed about China and its interests, we've made that clear,' she told Today show host Karl Stefanovic. 'And I'd make this point, we've never said that dialogue eliminates differences. Clearly it doesn't. The Foreign Minister also declined to make comments on the case and insisted Australia had 'strong frameworks around foreign interference.' "I can't comment on this specific case that's before the courts. But good try," Ms Wong said. She did not explicitly say whether she trusted China when pressed to do so and reiterated that China would pursue its interests regardless of Australian commentary. 'I trust China to do what China thinks is in its interest, and I trust Australia to do what's in our interests,' Ms Wong said. 'I think we all are very clear eyed about China and its interests; we've made that clear. 'The question is, how do we manage that? And dialogue and engagement is part of it. It doesn't eliminate differences, but it does enable us to put our views.' The case has sparked fears of newly inflamed tensions with China. AFP Assistant Commissioner Stephen Nutt on Monday alluded to the threat of espionage on Australian shores. 'At a time of permanent regional contest, offenders will attempt to spy on individuals, groups and institutions in Australia', he said in an apparent reference to Beijing. The woman's name cannot be revealed due to a temporary suppression order which was granted after her lawyer James Maher argued her safety would be put in jeopardy if her identity was not concealed. She was refused bail by Chief Magistrate Lorraine Walker, who agreed with prosecutors that the woman could be a potential flight risk. The offence of reckless foreign interference carrying a maximum sentence of 15 years imprisonment. ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess, whose agency provided the AFP with the information to launch their investigation, last week warned about the rising cost of espionage to the Australian economy, which he said amounted to $12.5 billion a year. He said that ASIO had foiled 24 significant espionage and interference operations in the past three years alone.
Sky News AU
35 minutes ago
- Sky News AU
Nyrstar secures $135m bailout from federal, South Australia, Tasmania govts as it struggles with Chinese market distortion
An embattled metals producer will receive a $135m bailout from the federal, South Australian and Tasmanian governments as it struggles with alleged market distortions by China. Lead and zinc refiner Nyrstar, a global company which is a subsidiary of Singapore-headquartered commodities company Trafigura, has loss making ventures in South Australia's Port Pirie and in Hobart. It pushed for government assistance earlier this year amid concerns of going under. Local boss Matthew Howell has claimed that China is 'distorting global markets' and 'eroding global operating margins' which has 'imperilled the commercial viability of domestic processing' across Western nations. Industry Minister Tim Ayres and South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas addressed reporters on Tuesday to confirm it would back the company which directly employs 1400 workers and indirectly supports 6600 jobs, according to Nyrstar. Mr Ayres said the funds would enable Nyrstar to upgrade its facilities which Mr Howell had previously said needed refreshing to compete with China. 'The maintenance and engineering upgrades are going to require hundreds of additional workers as contractors here in Port Pirie and in Hobart,' he said on Tuesday. 'That's going to make a big difference in terms of the maintenance supply chains and the economic viability of this vital industrial community.' Mr Malinauskas said the South Australian government's contribution for the Port Pirie plant was crucial for setting the location up for a 'more prosperous future' as the industry faces domination by China. 'We know there is a journey in front of us to be able to tackle the challenges we see, particularly coming out of China,' the SA Premier said. 'We should be up-front and honest about them. When people contemplate - is this an appropriate investment on behalf of taxpayers? - one also has to think about the counterfactual. 'The counterfactual would be to allow the Western world to see China consolidate all of … the world's smelting capacity, which would mean that we don't get to participate in the critical mineral and critical metal supply chain of the future.' Mr Howell has claimed the Chinese government subsidises companies to purchase Australian materials at prices local smelters could not afford. China then subsidises the processing of these materials and enforces export controls on the finished metals. The practice was crippling Nyrstar's Australian operations, according to Mr Howell who in June warned its Port Pirie operation was losing tens of millions each month and needed urgent government help. Nyrstar's Global CEO Guido Janssen said the company was particularly appreciative of the help in 'the face of extremely challenging global market conditions'. 'This support demonstrates the strategic importance of the Australian operations for sovereign capability and delivering the products needed globally for modern economies,' Mr Janssen said. 'This announcement is a credit to the teamwork and excellence of our teams at Port Pirie and Hobart and is an important step forward as part of our global focus on increasing critical and strategic metals production.' The manufacturer will receive $57.5m from the federal government, $55m from South Australia and $22.5m from Tasmania. Nyrstar produces materials that are critical for batteries, flame retardants, semiconductors and solar panels amongst other items.
