If re-elected, the Albanese Government has pledged to reduce the maximum cost of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) medicines to $25, delivering more cost-of-living relief for Australians and marking the lowest script price since 2004.
Federal Member for Macarthur, Dr Mike Freelander MP, welcomed the plan, said, “I entered Parliament to advocate for better healthcare outcomes for Macarthur & so I am delighted by this announcement, as it means Macarthur residents can better afford & access the medication they need.”
The cheaper scripts are set to begin on 1 January 2026 and follow earlier cuts, including reducing the PBS Safety Net threshold, shrinking script costs from $42.50 to $30, and introducing 60-day dispensing.
“Here in Macarthur, thousands of residents have benefited from our Cheaper Medicines policy, 60-day dispensing, and the Medicare Urgent Care Clinic in Campbelltown & Liverpool,” Dr Freelander added.
Under the measure, four out of five PBS medicines will get cheaper, while pensioners and concession cardholders continue to pay $7.70 until 2030.
The Government says this latest move will save Australians over $200 million each year, a key step in easing household budgets.
