National Health Amendment (Cheaper Medicines) Bill 2025

The majority voted in favour of an amendment to the usual second reading motion, which is "that the bill be read a second time" (parliamentary jargon for agreeing with the main idea of the bill). This means that the text below will be added to the usual motion. This does not make any legal changes but is politically influential because it represents the will of the Senate.

Amendment text

At the end of the motion, add ", but the Senate:

(a) notes that:

(i) in August 2025 over 300 medicines were in shortage in Australia,

(ii) alternatives approved during shortages are often sold out very quickly, and

(iii) lowering the cost of medicine does nothing if there is no medicine for Australians to buy; and

(b) calls on the Government to ensure that the supply of medicine is able to meet Australia's needs".