STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Mr SOON (Banks) (16:37): World Pharmacist Day is 25 September, and I want to take this opportunity to recognise all of the amazing pharmacists in my community and the services they provide to our local community. One such pharmacist is Ben Galluzzo, who runs Galluzzo's pharmacy in Riverwood. Galluzzo's is a family business in its third generation.

It has been serving the community since 1957, employing over 40 locals, and it has maintained the highest possible standard through the Quality Care Pharmacy Program. Ben and his team are deeply committed to their work and highly regarded by all in the community. I visited Galluzzo's a few weeks ago and met with Ben to discuss the government's cheaper medicines program, which is having a real and substantial impact on people in my electorate of Banks.

At the last election, the government promised a further cut to PBS prescription prices, and we have delivered. Under the cheaper medicines program, more than 2.1 million prescriptions have been filled, and local community members have saved more than $12.7 million. With the price of PBS medicines at the lowest level since 2004, these savings continue to grow.

Thank you to all the pharmacies across the country, particularly in Banks.