Senator Jana Stewart
Mutthi Mutthi and Wamba Wamba
Labor Senator for Victoria

Victorians have saved $57 million on their medicines in 2023, thanks to the Albanese Government’s changes to make medicines cheaper.

The maximum cost of a prescription on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) was lowered to $30 in January last year, from $42.50, in the largest cut to the co-payment in the 75-year history of the PBS.

Victorians are already benefitting from these changes – accessing 5.1 million cheaper scripts in 2023.

We are helping to make medicines more affordable and accessible and take the sting out of the rising cost of living across regional and rural Australia, with residents of the Mallee and Goulburn Valley already saving over $2.63 million since the Albanese Labor Government’s Cheaper Medicines policy began last year.

After the Coalition voted against 60-day prescriptions, but ultimately failed to block it, more than 1.2 million scripts have been issued since 60-day scripts became available, saving Australian patients an estimated $9 million.

We are helping to make medicines more affordable and accessible and take the sting out of the rising cost of living.

Quotes attributable to Jana Stewart, Senator for Victoria:

“We went to the election promising Australians cheaper medicines, and we have delivered on that promise.

"Regional Victoria needs cost of living relief now, that’s why our cheaper medicines reforms are so important.

“Victorian families shouldn’t have to choose between putting food on the table and accessing the medicines they need – we’ve made medicines cheaper, so they don’t have to make that choice.”