It is time to set the record straight on where the Coalition sits on Federal Labor’s 60 day dispensing changes.
We absolutely support it and we absolutely support Australians having access to cheaper medicines.
But the Albanese Labor Government has failed to consider the flow on impacts from their approach to its implementation.
Labor have admitted they did not consult with community pharmacists before they announced this policy, and they did not model the impacts that have been raised as concerns by both community pharmacists.
Labor’s current approach to implementing this policy, will rip billions of dollars out of small businesses who provide important primary care to local communities and risk the most vulnerable Australians being harmed.
The Coalition has been listening to the concerns of pharmacists and patients who will be impacted by this change.
I have been told categorically that there is a serious risk that Labor’s approach will see community pharmacies affected badly and possibly close.
This is a serious problem especially in regional Australia.
In some towns the community pharmacy is the only game in town whereas in capital cities if one closes you can just go to thenext suburb.
Once again Labor is proving that they don’t understand regional Australia and more than that, they just don’t care.
60-day dispensing is an important cost-of-living relief measure, and the Government must get it right.
Otherwise, we know that there will be significant and foreseeable risks for Australians who need support, particularly people in rural and regional communities, aged care residents, and patients with chronic diseases.
Labor has created this mess through their own lack of consultation, and they have the capacity to fix it.
Before I go this week a quick mention of the girls from the Matilda’s and how they have united the country these last couple of weeks.
The crowds have been amazing and the television ratings enormous, not to mention the countless other people who have gathered at pubs, clubs and designated parks across the country.
There are many who say that penalty shoot-outs are a cruel and agonizing way to decide a winner unless of course the team you support is ultimately that winner.
I cannot imagine the pressure that is suddenly on the goalkeeper, but Australia’s Mackenzie Arnold was certainly up for the job.
She saved three penalties, and we now know she has done all this while battling illness and hearing loss.
But then when Cortnee Vine converted the last penalty to seal victory for Australia it was a truly exhilarating, possibly the most exhilarating moment so far in Australian sport.
I want to congratulate the Matilda’s on their achievements to this point and thank them for uniting the country at a time when we so badly need it.
But as we know there is still more to do and tonight like most of Australia I will be cheering on the Matilda’s as they take on England in the semi-final.
Let’s go girls, let’s win this thing and make it to our first soccer World cup final.
