Rebecca White MP Holds Doorstop in Hunters Hill, NSW

JEROME LAXALE MP MEMBER FOR BENNELONG: It's great to be here at Hunters Hill Medical Practice, one of the most celebrated medical practices, not only here in Bennelong, but right across New South Wales. We'll hear from Dr Badr, and Assistant Minister White about a really important announcement later. When we came to government in 2022, we wanted Medicare and improved healthcare at the heart of what we do every day, from improvements in the last term, opening a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic here in Bennelong, along with commitments to open one in Chatswood and a Medicare Mental Health Clinic as well. We are increasing bulk billing rates and bulk billing incentives. You can see that this is a government that cares about Medicare and cares about cost-of-living relief for families across Australia. Hunters Hill Medical Practice has been right at the heart of that. And our Women's Health Package is supporting thousands of women across Australia and to have such a fantastic practice helping to deliver those services right here in metropolitan Sydney, is really important. The Assistant Minister has an important update today for more measures coming in from the 1 November, and it's just such a pleasure to welcome her here, to Bennelong to announce those and to reaffirm our commitment to women's health and to Medicare here in Bennelong.

REBECCA WHITE, ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND AGED CARE: Thanks so much, Jerome and thank you, Dr Badr and your fabulous staff for showing me around the practice today, it's evident how important this service is to support communities. The Federal Government's commitment to women's health was demonstrated with our $800 million investment in women's health issues that has seen women access affordable healthcare close to where they live. It has included the listing of new items on the PBS, where we haven't seen listings, in some case, for decades. Here in New South Wales, 150,000 women have benefited from 1 May to access cheaper medicines. They've accessed more than 360,000 scripts and not only is this great for them in accessing the medicines they need, it's also good for their hip pocket. Women in New South Wales have saved $12.6 million in accessing cheaper medicine since the 1 May, with a listing of these new contraceptive endometriosis and menopause medicines on the PBS. In addition to this, we're obviously keen to make sure more women can access the support they need, and that's why, from 1 November through our investment in Medicare, more women will be able to access more contraceptives. From 1 November, we are making it cheaper for women to access IUD and birth control implants. Empowering women to have a discussion with their doctor about the best choice of contraception for them. We know on average, this will save women up to $400 and it could mean the difference between them choosing to access an IUD or not. This is about providing more choice for women, making sure their access to the medicines they need and ensuring that they live better lives. I'm really proud to be part of a Labor Government that understands the need to invest in women's health care. For too long, women's health needs have been ignored, or their health concerns have been dismissed, here at this practice in Hunters Hill, they have understood how vital it is to support women to access great health care. They are partnering with the Federal Government to deliver the Persistent Pelvic Pain Clinic, and it's been an incredible success. Women in this community have been able to access specialist information about their own personal health needs and get support to make sure that they can live healthy, productive lives, and that's what we want for all women right across the country. I'll ask Dr Badr to talk about the services they're delivering here and the work they're delivering through the Persistent Pelvic Pain Clinic.

DR CHARBEL BADR, MEDICAL DIRECTOR: It has been a pleasure having the Assistant Minister and our local member visit the practice. It's been great being able to help and offer extra services to women in our local community. Hunters Hill Medical Practice is part of the Endometriosis Clinics that have been funded by the Federal Government, and that has allowed us to offer extra services and subsidised services to our patients. We've had patients travel up to 200 kilometers to access our services. With the extra funding that's coming up, the practice will be supporting our doctors to upskill further with the insertion of IUDs, as Assistant Minister White has mentioned, and also with the improved access to the PBS medications, which many of our patients who might not have been able to afford it beforehand, are able to afford it now.