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The federal government plans to cut the prices of this essential as early as next year
Good news, everyone! Amid price hikes and cost of living struggles, there seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel after one essential’s price is set to drop as soon as next year.
Prescription medicine prices will be slashed in a new cost of living measure by the federal government to alleviate cost of living pressure.
Copayment for scripts under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme will soon be capped at $30, in contrast with the current maximum copayment of $42.50.
The program will save people who are required to take multiple medications regularly hundreds of dollars each year and help prevent situations wherein people are forced to delay necessary treatment to afford other essentials.
Australians shouldn’t have to worry about the affordability of medicine. Source: Unsplash
The slight downside is that the measure won’t come into effect until January 1, with the Albanese government tabling the bill in parliament on Wednesday.
Health Minister Mark Butler mentioned that nearly a million Australians delay or avoid filling prescriptions, citing recent research.
‘Cutting the medicines’ price by nearly one-third will mean more people can afford to get the medications they need to stay healthy without worrying too much about the price.’ he said.
‘This change will put close to $200 million back in the pockets of Australians each year.’
However, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has acknowledged that there will be difficult decisions in the October budget, despite the inflation crisis.
As inflation and interest rates continue to escalate, the government has flagged it would minimise spending due to large amounts of Commonwealth debt. The prime minister said that he’s aiming to be transparent about possible cost-cutting measures in the federal budget.
‘We’ve inherited $1 trillion of Liberal Party debt. When the interest rate rises, so do the repayment costs of that Liberal Party debt.’ he explained at a press conference in Canberra on Wednesday.
‘What that means is that we can’t do everything that we would like to do.’
The prime minister is under pressure. Source: Bloomberg.com
The announcement followed after the Reserve Bank raised the official interest rate for the fifth consecutive month on Tuesday.
The cash rate now sits at a seven-year high of 2.35 per cent, a significant rise from the record low of 0.1 per cent.
The government is under pressure to maintain a cut to the fuel excise, which expires at the end of the month. The end of the fuel excise cut will inevitably increase petrol prices by roughly 25 cents per litre.
Albanese said improving Australia’s cost of living will be the main focus of the budget.
‘We’ll be going through line by line, looking for the waste which was there from the former government, looking for their largesse and these funds used just for political purposes and not for the national interest.’ he said.
He’s already followed through in recouping funds by scrapping the $18 million promised by the Morrison government to the Australian Future Leaders Foundation. The ABC reports the foundation had ‘never run a leadership program and had no website or staff’.
‘All of the former government’s commitments are under review.’ said the PM.
What are your thoughts about this new measure? What other programs do you think the Australians need? Let us know in the comments below. We think that everyone deserves a breather from the endless price hikes – the sooner, the better.