STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Mr DAVID SMITH (Bean—Government Whip) (13:35): Reducing the PBS co-payment to $25 is delivering real savings to people in Bean every time they visit their local pharmacy. Since the policy came into effect, residents in Bean have saved more than $800,000 on the cost of medicines. By the end of this month, those savings will reach almost $1 million, while Australians nationwide will save more than $140 million.

These savings are making a tangible difference. More money stays in household budgets, helping families afford the medicines they need without sacrificing other essentials. Local constituents have told me that cheaper medicines are helping.

Bec, a mother of two children who takes medication for ADHD, says the lower cost of prescriptions has helped to manage household expenses while she continues to support her children. Talia, a student nurse living with endometriosis and chronic pain, says cheaper medicines mean she no longer has to choose between managing her condition and meeting other living costs as she works towards completing her studies.

I also want to thank Capital Chemist Wanniassa, which I recently visited, for sharing firsthand how the $25 PBS co-payment is benefiting local patients and reducing cost pressures at the pharmacy counter. And finally, I thank our community pharmacies across the whole of Bean for the vital role they play in supporting local health care every day.