REBECCA WHITE, ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND AGED CARE The Albanese Labor Government is investing a significant amount of money in women's health to ensure that women have choice and affordability and better health options so that they can live a great life. On the 1 November, we are making changes to the Medicare rebate for long-acting reversible contraceptives, and we're here at Family Planning. Launceston because they've been a key partner with the Australian Government in delivering services to women here in Tasmania.
This is on top of other investments we've already made, to make it more affordable and better for women to access contraception in our country, we haven't seen new listings on the PBS for 30 years in some instance, but on 1 May this year, the Australian Government listed more contraceptives, including some additional medicines for endometriosis and new menopause therapies that have meant here in Tasmania, 13,000 women have benefited from cheaper medicines from the first of May, and they've filled 34,000 scripts, Saving $1.3 million so not only is this great for women's health, it's great for their hip pocket.
We are making sure that it is more affordable for women to have access to the medicines they need, and that they've got greater choice, and on 1 November, that choice expands even further. We are making it more affordable for women to access long-acting, reversible contraceptives, where previously the out-of-pocket costs could have been as high as $400, with these changes, we'll be able to provide options for women that mean they can have these contraceptives inserted, hopefully bulk billed, which means that in some cases where women have had a chat to their GP, like Dr Kath and decided this might be their best option. Sometimes they haven't been able to proceed because the cost has been a major barrier.
The Australian Government's removing that barrier because we want women to have choice. We want them to have access and we want them to have the best health care they can possibly get.
MARCUS DI MARTINO CEO, FAMILY PLANNING: Family planning Tasmania is a great provider of women's health and sexual reproductive health services. We're thrilled about this announcement, which will take away financial cost as a barrier to people accessing IUDs from 1 November. This year we’ve done more than 900 IUDs across the state, and we're expecting that to increase. Often an IUD may be prescribed by the doctor as a best form of contraception, but due to the complexity and duration of an IUD insert, it does take quite a while, and therefore some patients do end up with large out-of-pocket expenses. We feel that this will help give Australia back in line with, on the journey of getting back in line with, our overseas counterparts, knowing our LARC, rates are somewhere around 10%. In some Scandinavian countries and UK it sit around 30%.
DR KATH MOORE: When I discuss contraceptive options with my patients, we know that IUDs are probably the most effective contraception. And I think that the cost has absolutely been a barrier to patients getting the IUD put in. And I think this increased rebate is really going to increase the ability for patients to get it put in. It's going to be really great.
JOURNALIST: What's the average cost of an IUD in Tasmania?
DR KATH MOORE: It really does vary, depending on what practice you go to, I work in one of the other GP practices, the cost is currently $230 and I think with this increased rebate, that's going to either drop to nothing or drop to a much more affordable rate for patients. Here at family planning, hopefully we'll be able to provide IUD inserts bulk billed with this increased rebate. But I know in other practices, you could be up to $400 or $600 out of pocket.
JOURNALIST: Why are IUDs considered one of the best forms of contraception?
DR KATH: IUDs are incredibly effective contraception. They're over 99% effective against pregnancy, and they're such a great contraceptive because once they put in Mirena, which is one of the type of IUDs can last up to 8 years. So just the fact that you can get it put in, then you can not have to remember anything for the next 8 years, which is what we call like a set-and-forget approach. That's why it's really effective.
JOURNALIST: What do you think is the biggest obstacle for women when getting an IUD, is it cost? Is it maybe lack of education, or perhaps pain?
DR KATH: I think it's a combination of those factors. I think cost has definitely been a big one. Finding a practitioner locally who can put the IUD in. I think the unknown for a lot of people, unknown for them if they're going to experience pain with the procedure and how it's going to affect them. And often we talk to patients here about trying to make sure that they feel comfortable when they're having that procedure done. And we work with them as individuals as to what their past experiences might be, what the current medical problems are, and we talk to them about what appropriate pain leave might be beforehand and during and afterwards, to make sure that they feel comfortable and safe and confident that they're going to be okay during the procedure. And I think too, with patients, quite often, they are unsure about what symptoms they might experience afterwards, side effects. Sometimes, if they know someone that's had a bad experience with formal contraception, that might then put them off. But we try and talk to people about the fact that everyone's an individual.
JOURNALIST: What is the average pain relief women are given for an IUD?
DR KATH: Again, it's incredibly variable between patients. I have some patients who come in with no pain relief, have their IUD put in and go back to work, and I have other patients who have a general anesthetic for their IUD, but to be honest, most people are somewhere more in the middle of that spectrum. I would say, we meet with every woman or person with a uterus before they have their IUD put in, and at that consultation, we discuss what might be appropriate pain relief for them. There's no one set medicine that people are given. Patients can take some anti inflammatory medication, others take some Panadol. And for some women, that's enough. Other women might need much stronger pain relief beforehand and then during the IUD procedure, we have options for local anaesthetic for Penthrox, and it is an inhaled medication. But again, it's just an individualised plan for each patient, depending on what their experiences might be, what their concerns are, and we decide that together.
JOSH WILLIE MP: Great to be here with Senator Polley, Assistant Health Hinister, Rebecca White, Marcus from Family Planning and Dr Kath. The Labor Party is the party of Medicare. We have a proud history at a federal level supporting health care, and this is an important announcement for Tasmanians. Tasmanian women, for too long, have had barriers with access and cost when it comes to getting the health care they deserve. I'm really pleased to be standing here with my federal colleagues and absolutely back in their announcement today. Supporting Tasmanians in their communities is really important, and it's great to be here with Assistant Health Minister Rebecca White and seeing her flourish in the role.
JOURNALIST: One of the barriers that women face with IUD is also the pain of it. Is this something the Albanese Government is looking into maybe reimbursing for women?
WHITE: There are lots of options for contraception for women, and this will expand that availability, removing the cost for women having an IUD. We are always working with clinicians and with health consumers to understand what other improvements can be made, and if pain relief becomes an issue that we need to address that. I'm very open to working with my colleagues to make sure that we can do that.
JOURNALIST: We know that Bridget Archer met with Mark Butler in Canberra last week. Was the federal government asked to provide any federal funding to the Hobart Clinic, and will it do so?
WHITE: I'm not aware of what the state government asked the federal government in relation to the Hobart Clinic, but what I can say is that I've been working with my state colleagues, and Josh Willie and I have been talking about further support that might be provided to the Hobart Clinic, because we know that we need to be able to provide support to Tasmanians who are dealing with mental ill health. The federal government has made a significant investment in providing more support for people living with mental ill health. A billion dollars was committed at this most recent election, which included $90 million to train more health professionals, because that's a big part of the puzzle here. It's making sure that we've got clinicians available to support people, no matter where they live, to access the treatments they deserve. We've also stood up Medicare Mental Health Clinics here in Launceston. We're opening them in the north and the south of the state and across the northwest as well, because we understand that when people are dealing with mental ill health they need help, then they can't always wait, and it's important that we have those services available through the primary health care system, and that's what our Medicare mental health services will offer.
JOURNALIST: In the specific case of the Hobart Clinic. Would you like to see more federal funding provided there?
WHITE: What we have across Australia, unfortunately, is a breakdown in the provision of private mental health services. This is unfortunately not unique to Tasmania. The circumstances at the Hobart Clinic are due to the failure of a private business. This is not something that's a federal or a state government responsibility with respect to the operation of this clinic. It impacts on the public system, because these patients then, unfortunately, have nowhere else to go. So we are very, very interested in working closely with the state government to make sure that these patients and the health professionals who are employed here are supported, because these are services that Tasmanians do deserve to have access to, whether they be in the private system or in the public system,
JOURNALIST: The state government has suggested that the federal government is short-changing Tasmanians when it comes to their health system by $673 million Over 5 years. Is that accurate? What's your response to it?
WHITE: Well, I've said previously that I don't know where the state government's getting their figures from. What we've offered through the National Health Reform agreement negotiations is a significant uplift of $20 billion to states and territories to support us in delivering better health services to Australians here in Tasmania. The federal government has provided $750 million to the Tasmanian Government to support our hospital network. The federal government provides 70 per cent of the funding that Tasmanian Government uses across all of its services. It is up to the Tasmanian Government to better manage their budget so that they are delivering services that Tasmanians expect and deserve.
JOURNALIST: Given public hospital funding mostly sits with the Commonwealth government. Is the Commonwealth doing enough here?
WHITE: We are in active negotiations right now with states and territories, including the Tasmanian Government, about improving access to services for those who are needing health care, and that's why we have offered $20 billion more in funding to states and territories through the National Health Reform agreement. Those negotiations are ongoing, but I can tell Tasmanians that the Australian Government is a significant funder of health services here. $750 million has been invested in the health system just this year alone. We are serious about making sure health care can be provided no matter where you live. It's also why we funded our Medicare Urgent Care Clinics, why we're funding our Medicare Mental Health Clinics. It doesn't just depend upon us funding the state government to deliver hospital services. We are doing more when it comes to increasing the bulk billing rate so people can see a GP. We are doing everything we can to strengthen Medicare because we know Tasmanians deserve to have access to the health care, they need, whether they're living in a city or the living in the country, and I'm committed to delivering on that in this government.
JOURNALIST: Will the federal government consider providing funding for the Hobart Clinic?
WHITE: As you would be aware, the federal government met with the state government last week. Those negotiations are ongoing. I'm not sure if there's been a request of funds made by the state government. I certainly haven't had any calls by anybody in the state government. The only person I've talked to is Josh Willie from the opposition party, who's picked the phone up to me to advocate on behalf of the Hobart Clinic.
JOURNALIST: We've seen a number of private hospitals close in Tasmania, and others are battling significant infrastructure issues. Are you concerned about the future of private health care in Tasmania? And is the Albanese Government doing anything about that?
WHITE: We've seen challenges for private health providers and private health insurance across the country. It's why the Australian Government has, with our Department of Health, stood up a taskforce that is working across the country with key stakeholders to look at what improvements need to be made. This is a serious issue. The public hospital system is under pressure. Our private health care system is a partner with us in delivering health services right around the country, and that's why we are tackling this at the highest level.
JOURNALIST: The AMA says there needs to be far more oversight on private health insurers to ensure private hospitals are sustainable. Do you agree? And what is your government doing to investigate?
WHITE: As I said, we've stood up a taskforce at the federal government level, working with the department, working with CEOs of private health insurance companies, working with CEOs of private hospitals. We recognise the pressure this is placing, particularly on patients and staff and in jurisdictions that are smaller, like Tasmania and the Northern Territory, who felt this impact more. This is something we are actively working to see if we can solve, because we want Tasmanians and Australians to have access to the health care they deserve, whether they're relying on the public system or the private system.
JOURNALIST: Do you think the government encouraged the coordinator general to write a report favourable of a stadium? Do you believe it was independent?
JOSH WILLIE: I'll let Tasmanians make their own assessment of the reports in terms of the stadium, but what I can say is this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Tasmania, and it's important that we realise it. We've come so far and to lose this opportunity would be a huge loss. Not only would we lose the football teams that we've fought for generations, but there would also be a loss of confidence in our economy, and it will send the wrong message to people interstate and overseas who want to do business in Tasmania.
JOURNALIST: Do you endorse the findings the coordinator general made about the benefits of the stadium?
JOSH WILLIE: I know there will be significant social and economic benefits from realising the dream of having our own football teams in Tasmania at the national level. There will be significant economic drivers and a catalyst effect from realising this opportunity, and it's important we do so.
JOURNALIST: Do you think the Coordinator General's comments will persuade anyone undecided about the stadium?
JOSH WILLIE: This is a controversial project. It's in part because of the way the state government has handled it. It is a major project. Tasmania needs to build major projects. We have a government that has a chequered history when it comes to major projects. Does that mean Tasmania should not build major projects? I don't think so. That's why we've put more oversight around this. We've referred it to the Public Accounts Committee. It's up to the government to take Tasmanians on the journey.
JOURNALIST: On Liberty Bell Bay, the state government has confirmed it's putting GFG Alliance on notice for not meeting conditions of its $20 million loan. What's your expectation of how GFG and the state government handle this matter from here?
JOSH WILLIE: My first thought is with the workers at the site. There's a lot of uncertainty for them right now, and their Tasmanians contributing to our economy and our way of life. My first thought is with them, and the comments from the Tasmanian Government would be concerning for them. A greater accountability is needed here. the state government could put pressure on GFG to provide more accountability. A restart plan would be very helpful to give the workers confidence that there is a future at the site, and that's exactly what the Tasmanian Government should be demanding.
JOURNALIST: Should the state government offer more funding to secure the site's future? Given they aren't ruling anything out.
JOSH WILLIE: There's accountability from GFG point of view, they've had significant support from the Tasmanian Government already. There needs to be some accountability around that, and a restart plan would be a great step.
JOURNALIST: Bridget Archer did confirm, she raised the issue of the Hobart Clinic with Mark Butler, and she just said she continues to urge the federal government to step up and fix the issues in the private market. Is there anything else you'd like to add?
JOSH WILLIE: A couple of weeks ago, Shadow Health Minister Sarah Lovell and I visited the Hobart Clinic, and it was very clear to me the importance of that service so that Tasmanians can get the health care they deserve. The state government has a responsibility to provide mental health care, and the issue here is the state system is not equipped to take this capacity. And that means that the state government needs to assist for a small investment in terms of the overall health system. This is the right thing to do. I called on Bridget Archer to go and visit the Health Clinic myself. She did not. A few weeks ago, she said the clinic was going to close and it was not her responsibility. Now we've had her walk that back. She's now engaging, but she's stuck in this inertia where she won't make a decision. That's why I'm calling on the Premier to intervene. He needs to make a decision, the right decision, to keep the clinic open. He can do that today.
JOURNALIST: Jeremy Rockford just taken to social media this morning, saying that there were 111 Tasmanians in hospital who could have been cleared to leave again, accusing the federal government of not providing an aged care place or the appropriate NDIS support. Is this the case? What's your take on this?
WHITE: We are making a significant investment into aged care, we're investing $4.3 billion across the country to release 83,000 new packages, and that is going to help more people to have the care that they need and deserve as they age with dignity in their home. I recognise that this is sometimes a problem, but the state government also has a number of regional hospital facilities that they could step patients down to. The most recent budget papers that I saw showed that they are about 50 per cent occupancy of the beds that they have in those facilities. Now the state government wants to relieve pressure on their major hospitals. They could use their regional hospital network and support patients to transition to be closer to their families and their communities. This is something that the state government can't wipe their hands off. They have options that they can also use to discharge patients from hospitals, and the federal government supported them with funding in the past to do just that, we are also investing $4.3 billion in aged care reforms to open up more packages of care that will support more Tasmanians to be able to live in dignity in their own home.