CONSTITUENCY STATEMENTS

Mrs PHILLIPS (Gilmore) (16:27): In some fantastic news, a father of three in my electorate now has life-changing access to affordable cancer treatment, with his medicine listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme this month. Forty-two-year-old Clinton was diagnosed with medullary thyroid cancer 10 years ago. He is one of around 130 Australians that will save about $8,200 per month with the addition of Retevmo to the PBS.

I've been working alongside Clinton and strongly advocating for his medicine to be added to the PBS, so I was delighted when the Minister for Health and Ageing made the announcement we've been waiting for on 1 August. I know that being diagnosed with this rare cancer has been very distressing for Clinton and his family, and I'm so pleased they will now be able to go about their lives without the added burden of costly medical treatment.

Last week, Clinton came into my office and told me the listing would help him as well as other MTC patients, including children, that require access to the life-saving and life-changing medicine. He thanked me, Minister Butler and the Albanese Labor government for showing compassion and understanding and for advocating on his behalf to have his medicine listed on the PBS.

He thanked the government for giving him hope for the future. The announcement came at a crucial time for Clinton, who, without his doctor's consent, had halved his dose to save money and had started a GoFundMe page to help cover his medical bills. He was desperate.

Access to affordable medication means Clinton can now live a productive and fulfilling life, and it means he can continue working and providing for his family. It will allow him to be there for those important milestones that mean so much to him as a father and husband. A division having been called in the House of Representatives— Sitting suspended from 16:29 to 16:38 Mrs PHILLIPS: It will allow him to be there for those important milestones that mean so much to him as a father and husband.

I'm proud to be part of a government that is making health care accessible for Clinton and others with rare cancers. This new PBS listing means eligible patients will not pay more than $8,000 per script; they will pay a maximum of $25 per script or just $7.70 with a concession card. Additionally, under new Medicare arrangements, patients with thyroid cancer will be able to undergo genetic testing to confirm eligibility for treatment with Retevmo.

Since July 2022, the Australian government has approved extra funding for 474 new and amended listings on the PBS. We're focused on strengthening Medicare and making PBS scripts more affordable to provide cost-of-living relief and hope for our most vulnerable Australians.