Assistant Minister for Women, Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health
ALEX THOMAS, HOST: Women across Australia will have greater access to menopause and perimenopause care from next week. The expansion comes after increased government investment and takes effect from 1 July. Let's speak to Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, Rebecca White. She joins us live now. Thanks for your time, Rebecca. What extra care and support will be available?
REBECCA WHITE, ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND AGEING: Well, this is really good news for Australian women who for too long have had their symptoms and concerns around menopause dismissed. So from 1 July, all of our endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics will expand to provide care for perimenopause and menopause too. So we've got 33 of these across the country. And alongside the work they're doing, of course, we've also increased our support across the workforce more generally with a new menopause assessment through Medicare, and that's already seen 125,000 Australian women.
THOMAS: Historically, women's health vastly underinvested in compared to men's health. Menopause and perimenopause in particular, widely misunderstood, dozens of symptoms, many more yet to be identified. And it can affect women very differently, can't it?
WHITE: It really can. I think a lot of people assume it's things like hot flushes and not being able to sleep, but it's much broader than that. And for many women, they've felt dismissed and really confused about their symptoms. So we've also launched a national awareness campaign, and this awareness campaign is aimed not only at supporting women to access good information through an evidence-based resource. So there's a great website and I hope people have seen some of the ads, but also to educate our community and break down some of the stigma that means that when women are in the workplace, when they're talking with their families, there is a more open discussion about menopause and perimenopause and it's not just treated as this sort of secret society that you only find out about once you're in it. We want more women to feel empowered and have access to the information they need and for the community to know about that too.
THOMAS: Every dollar spent in the Federal Budget these days is heavily scrutinised. Is it a hard sell?
WHITE: I think given we make up about 50 per cent, just over, of the population, Australian women have been giving us great feedback about this. As you say, for too long Australian women have felt neglected and like their health concerns have been dismissed, and we are rectifying that. We've got a record investment in women's health through our Women's Health Package, and this is good for women but it's also good for the men that love these women because they know they can get the access, the care and the support that they need closer to home.
THOMAS: We just heard from Treasurer Jim Chalmers in the last 15 minutes or so, telling reporters this morning that he rejects criticism from Philip Lowe about the CGT changes that went through last night. Philip Lowe says it will reduce investment and productivity in our economy. When a respected former RBA governor has so many concerns, that's a huge red flag, isn't it?
WHITE: I think what you've seen through the measures we've delivered in this budget is a real focus on supporting Australians to deal with the cost of living pressures that we're experiencing, but also uplift housing affordability and supply, particularly for new home buyers. I feel very confident that the work that Treasury has done and our Treasurer and Prime Minister has done in understanding the effects of these changes across the economy will not only actually see a resulting productivity uplift but a fairer tax system, which is going to support a lot more young Australians to own their first home. And we've heard loud and clear that this has to be a big key priority for our government and we're responding.
THOMAS: Okay. That's Rebecca White, the Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care. Thanks for your time on the show this morning.
WHITE: Thank you.
