Today the Labor party will announce a $573.3 million it says will deliver more choice, lower costs and better health care for women. The package of measures includes:. The first PBS listing for new oral contraceptive pills in more than 30 years. Larger Medicare payments and more bulk billing for IUDs and birth control implants saving around 300,000 women per year up to $400 in out-of-pocket cost. A new Medicare rebate for menopause health assessments, funding to train health professionals, the first-ever clinical guidelines and a national awareness campaign.
The first PBS listing for new menopausal hormone therapies in over 20 years. Opening 11 new clinics for endometriosis and pelvic pain, and ensuring these and the existing 22 clinics are also staffed to provide additional specialist support for menopause. Contraceptives and treatment for uncomplicated UTIs directly from pharmacies, with two national trials to benefit 250,000 concession cardholders. And welcome to our live news blog. I’m Rafqa Touma updating you with the stories of the day as they happen.
We woke up to news that a heatwave, bringing very high humidity and hot nights, is moving east from southern and central Australia. Southern parts of the Northern Territory and far western parts of Queensland are bearing the brunt, while Melbourne and Hobart are also expected to experience a run of unusually hot weather. Yesterday, thousands of people attended rallies across Australia to show solidarity with transgender youth and their families, after the Queensland government’s decision to pause essential healthcare for trans minors. Twenty rallies were held, including a crowd of 5,000 gathering in both Brisbane and Melbourne, 2500 in Sydney and more than 200 in Cairns, a lead organiser said.
And Australia’s largest childcare provider is facing activist pressure to give staff paid parental leave. Australian employers commonly offer paid parental leave – in addition to the government scheme – to attract and retain workers in a competitive jobs market. But the largest listed childcare provider in Australia, G8 Education, has no such policy, drawing the attention of activist shareholders who want to pressure it to change.
