Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese has used Labor's campaign launch to announce a plan to cut the cost of medicines on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), meaning no medicine would be more than $30.
Labor is launching its campaign in Perth today, with Mr Albanese using his speech to sell a number of new policies — including new plans to get more first home buyers into the market, close the gender pay gap and make medicines cheaper.
The launch was attended by a range of high-profile Labor figures, including WA's Premier Mark McGowan, newly-elected South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas and former prime ministers Kevin Rudd and Paul Keating.
In front of the party's "A Better Future" slogan, Mr Albanese sought to make clear how a Labor government would be different from the Coalition — particularly on issues of health, childcare and aged care.
He unveiled Labor's plan to cut costs of medicines on the PBS by $12.50 — going slightly further than the Coalition's plan to cut prices by $10.
"This means the maximum price for PBS medicines will be $30," Mr Albanese said.
"The price of medications has gone up under the Morrison government — just like the cost to see a doctor has gone up."
The PBS is a program that subsidises certain medications to make them cheaper for Australians to buy. What goes on the PBS is decided by an independent body.
Gender pay gap a 'key focus'
Mr Albanese also used the launch to announce that a Labor government would work to end the gender pay gap, particularly in female-dominated sectors, by making it one of the aims of the Fair Work Act.
"I believe that one of Australia's greatest untapped resources is the full and respectful economic participation of women," he said.
"If you want to represent the whole country, best not to leave more than half of the country out of it."
The Labor leader said the party was committed to using "all of the tools we have in our power" to closing the gender pay gap.
"We will set up expert panels on pay equity and the care and community sector to help improve pay and conditions for women in those sectors," he said.
"It was care workers who kept us alive during the pandemic.
"Care workers are the arteries of our nation, our regions, our cities, our suburbs.
"We must give them the respect and the investment they deserve."
Mr Albanese said a "key focus" of a Labor government would be removing structural barriers that prevent women from "securing decent jobs and careers" and financial security.
But he did not provide any timeline for when the expert panels would be set up, or how they would go about improving pay and conditions for women in those sectors.
The Labor leader also did not confirm if the party plans to drop its policy to include superannuation payments on the government's Paid Parental Leave scheme — a policy that experts say is critical to improving women's financial security.
Mr Albanese also promised Labor would put $1 billion toward a resources fund to have materials processed onshore instead of overseas.
The money would form part of a proposed $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund.
"We'll take resources like lithium and nickel – essential elements of the batteries that will power the vehicles of the future – and instead of shipping them to another country to make batteries, we'll have what we need to make them right here," he said.
The party's launch comes halfway into the six week campaign, before the election on May 21.
