Women’s Health Week is an important opportunity to recognise the significant challenges that continue to impact women’s health outcomes in Australia and the work that still needs to be done to address them.
The Coalition acknowledges the important progress that has been made so far, including the bipartisan commitment made during the last election to invest an additional $573.3 million into important women’s health initiatives.
The Coalition will hold the Albanese Labor Government to account on progressing these bipartisan commitments as quickly as possible, including measures to enhance menopause care for women through a new Medicare rebate, expand health professional training, develop national clinical guidelines, and increase funding for endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics.
Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care, Senator Anne Ruston said that this package builds on the important work started under the former Coalition Government – including launching the National Women’s Health Strategy and announcing an historic investment into Australia’s first endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics.
“These initiatives must be delivered without delay. For women experiencing menopause and living with conditions like endometriosis, access to affordable GPs and specialist care is critical. Right now, too many women are missing out,” Senator Ruston said.
The Coalition remains deeply concerned that under the Albanese Government, it has never been harder or more expensive for women to access critical primary care.
GP bulk billing rates have collapsed by 11% over the past three years. Patients are now paying the highest out-of-pocket costs on record to see a GP – a combined $2 billion in the past year alone – which forced more than 1.5 million Australians to avoid accessing primary care in 2023-24.
Shadow Minister for Women, Melissa McIntosh MP said that timely and affordable access to primary health care is essential, particularly for women managing menopause and debilitating conditions like endometriosis.
“The Government must do more to ensure women can access the health advice and check-ups they need without cost being a barrier.”
“Women must be front and centre of any conversation about primary health care in Australia.
The Coalition is also urging the Albanese Government to urgently deliver on its broken promise to protect Australians from genetic discrimination in life insurance.
The Government committed to addressing this issue in the last term of parliament, but in a devastating backdown, failed to even release the draft legislation.
“This broken promise has denied hope to Australians at risk of hereditary conditions, and discourages many from seeking genetic testing that could lead to life-saving information and treatment,” Senator Ruston said.
“Labor gave Australian women and families hope, but then walked away. It’s time they did the right thing and introduced this legislation immediately.”
The Coalition remains strongly committed to ensuring that women across Australia can access timely and affordable health care that understands their unique experiences, needs, and challenges.
Whether it is supporting women with chronic health conditions such as endometriosis, helping women manage menopause, assisting families on their fertility journey, or reducing barriers to testing and support, the Coalition is focused on getting the policy settings right.
ENDS
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