As Scenic News went to press on Tuesday night Treasurer Josh Frydenberg was delivering the 2022 Australian Budget in Federal Parliament.

It is a Budget that provides responsible and practical help for households to ease the cost of living pressures across a host of issues and one that has a clear plan for a stronger future for Australia.

As residents of Wright this week, take on board the full detail of the Budget and what it means for them. It is not possible, of course, for me to comment in my weekly column on all the issues I would like to.

There are, however, several wonderful initiatives close to my heart that I feel especially proud to mention.

The first is that the Morrison Government will invest record funding of $58 million to support the more than 800,000 women in our nation who suffer from endometriosis.

One in nine women endures the debilitating and painful effects of endometriosis.

Funding will be used to establish specialist endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics in every state to improve diagnosis, care and treatment.

The clinics will include GPs specialising in women’s health and pain management, as well as nurses, allied health services and education.

EASIER ACCESS TO GENETIC TESTING
Australians planning a pregnancy will now have easier access to genetic testing for cystic fibrosis, spinal muscular atrophy and Fragile X syndrome. 

These are the most common inheritable genetic disorders, resulting in substantially reduced life expectancy.

A Budget allocation of $81.2 million will provide free universal testing for all three of these disorders as a new Medicare item. Testing identifies if a person is a carrier of the gene prior to pregnancy.

In an associated development, Australians with cystic fibrosis will soon have access to a new treatment following the listing of Trikafta on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

One in 2500 babies is born with cystic fibrosis, and there is currently no cure. 

Without PBS subsidy, around 1900 Australians would have to pay more than $250,000 a year for access to Trikafta. 

It is a treatment that was out of reach for most Australians, and now that it will be available on PBS, patients will only pay a maximum of $42.50 per script, or as little as $6.80 with a concession card.