STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Ms FRANCE (Dickson) (16:10): For decades, women's health has been ignored or belittled. I was told in my late 40s that my tiredness was probably diet related and that I should increase my iron intake. I was told my migraines, which I had never had before, were probably the result of stress.

Looking back, I was in perimenopause. I'm now aged 52. I am in my menopause era, and I am one of the tens of thousands of women who are benefiting from the Albanese Labor government's record women's health package.

I am taking all of the things available to mitigate the symptoms and live a productive, happy life. Getting the diagnosis and initial treatment cost me over $1,000. I've been paying about $800 a year for medications over the past few years.

Now, as a result of Albanese Labor government's $800 million women's health package, the annual cost has halved for me. Today I was proud to join my Labor caucus colleagues to announce that another contraceptive has been added to the PBS. From November 1 the NuvaRing will cost just $31.60 per script or $7.70 for concessional patients.

From January that cost drops even further, to $25. What once cost $270 a year will now cost just $25. I'm proud to be part of a government that listens, acts and delivers for Australian women.