The old telecoms network in some areas are set to be decommissioned and replaced by high-speed broadband with a May 11th cut-off date.

The areas in question include Cape Paterson, Wonthaggi; Drouin, Drouin East and Inverloch.

Making the switch to the NBN went live in these areas 18 months ago.

As the old telecoms network is decommissioned, many users on the NBN fibre-to-the-node (FTTN) network can expect to experience a boost to their broadband speeds due to the removal of interference issues between old and new network technologies (depending on the internet plan purchased from their retail provider).]

While the majority of residents in these areas have already made the switch to the NBN, any residents who have not yet switched need to act if they want to keep an operational home phone and internet.

Switching to the NBN is not automatic. Anyone still using a service on the old telecoms network will have received at least five letters reminding them to switch to the NBN (the final notice via registered mail)– with the old network set to be decommissioned on May 11th, now’s the time to switch to the NBN.

NBN plans are available from retailers at a range of price points – from basic home phone plans priced the same as the old telecoms network, up to high-speed broadband plans with unlimited data.

Nationwide there are now more than 6.3 million homes and businesses able to connect to the NBN, and more than 3.5 million premises have connected.

 

The Turnbull Government will drastically reduce the cost of a life-saving new medicine, which uses a patient’s own immune system to track down and destroy cancer cells.

From 1 May, classical Hodgkin’s lymphoma patients will no longer pay over $200,000 per course of treatment, now only paying a maximum of $39.50 per script, with concessional patients–including pensioners–paying just $6.40.

Keytruda® is an immunotherapy medicine, part of the next wave of medical breakthroughs, working with a patient’s own immune system to recognise cancer cells and destroy them.

More than 120 Australians with classical Hodgkin’s lymphoma will now access Keytruda each year at a drastically reduced cost.

This listing provides a new option for patients that cannot undergo, or have no response from, the normal chemotherapy treatment.

Health Minister Greg Hunt said the Turnbull Government is committed to making these new life-changing immunotherapy medicines available for Australian patients, and has listed Opdivo®, a $1 billion drug to treat both locally advanced and metastatic stages of non-small cell lung cancer and a type of renal cell cancer.

The government has also made Yervoy® available for the treatment of unresectable Stage II or Stage IV malignant melanoma.

Also on May 1, other medicines will be made available to treat a range of conditions, including non-small cell lung cancer, epilepsy and ulcerative colitis.

Giotrif® will be made available for over 220 people each year to treat advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. This medicine would otherwise cost patients over $33,550 per year.

Briviact®, an anti convulsant agent, will provide a new treatment option for patients with epilepsy. This will mean around 1,800 patients each year will each save over $1,000.

Amino Acid Formula supplemented with Prebiotics, Probiotics and Long Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (Neocate® Syneo) is a medicinal food that provides a new treatment option for infants (up to 24 months) with life altering food intolerances.  It is expected over 2000 infants could benefit from this listing.

And Colazide® an intestinal anti-inflammatory agent will now be available with a larger maximum quantity on prescription meaning that patients will need to fill fewer prescriptions. Over 2000 patients could benefit from this listing.

The independent Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) recommended each of these listings.

The Committee is by law and in practice, independent of Government in its deliberations. By law the Federal Government cannot list a new medicine without a positive recommendation from PBAC.

Since coming into Government, the Coalition has helped improve the health of Australians, including those in the McMillan electorate, by subsidising more than $8.2 billion worth of new medicines.

The Turnbull government’s commitment to the PBS is rock solid. Together with Medicare, it is a foundation of our world-class health care system.”

PBS listings are published on the Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits, which is available through the PBS website at: www.pbs.gov.au.

From April 1 2018, the Turnbull Government will reduce the cost of more than 300 medicine brands by as much as 40 per cent, benefiting millions of Australian patients.

Australians with conditions including high blood pressure, depression, digestive disorders and certain types of cancer will now pay less for their medicines, every time they visit the pharmacy.
Millions of scripts will now be up to five dollars cheaper, with more than $60 million worth of savings passed on to patients over the next four years. The lower prices are a result of the Government’s price disclosure policy which requires price transparency from pharmaceutical companies resulting in lower costs to taxpayers and patients.
More than 620,000 patients taking esomeprazole for digestive disorders will benefit, saving as much as $50 each year.
Nearly 80,000 patients taking olmesartan for high blood pressure can save as much as $54 each year.
Patients with multiple conditions will receive higher savings. We understand every single dollar matters and that is precisely why we are reducing the cost of hundreds of important medicines.
These cheaper medicines also deliver a further $250 million saving to the taxpayer, which will be completely reinvested into new medicines on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). These price reductions benefit patients when the total cost of the script drops below the maximum PBS payment of $39.50 with concessional patients – including pensioners– paying just $6.40. The Turnbull Government is also committed to listing more lifesaving and life improving medicines on the PBS.
Today new and expanded medicine listings to treat diabetes, cancer, arthritis, asthma and eye disease will also be available for a maximum of $39.50 or just $6.40 for concessional patients.
Since coming into Government, the Coalition has helped improve the health of Australians by subsidising more than $8.2 billion worth of new medicines. Our commitment to the PBS is rock solid. Together with Medicare, it is a foundation of our world-class health care system. Price reductions and new and expanded medicine listings come into effect on 1 April 2018. For more information visit www.pbs.gov.au.

Russell Broadbent MP
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