Skip to main content
Home
  • The Legislative Assembly meets on 16/04/2024 (01:00 PM)
    Assembly sit 16/04/2024
  • The Legislative Council meets on 16/04/2024 (01:00 PM)
    Council sit 16/04/2024
  • The Public Administration meets on 08/04/2024 (10:00 AM)
    Committee meet 08/04/2024

Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 984 asked in the Legislative Council on 20 October 2022 by Hon Dr Brian Walker

Parliament: 41 Session: 1

MEDICAL CANNABIS — PHARMACEUTICAL BENEFITS SCHEME

984. Hon Dr BRIAN WALKER to the Leader of the House representing the Minister for Health:

I refer the minister to the petition lodged with the federal Parliament on 10 October 2022 with 6 687 signatures, calling upon the Albanese government to begin listing medicinal cannabis products on the pharmaceutical benefits scheme, and to the reply the minister's predecessor gave me on 2 September 2021 in which he confirmed that the McGowan government had written to the then Liberal government in Canberra supporting such a move.

(1) Has the McGowan government or the minister discussed the desirability of having medicinal cannabis products listed on the PBS with the federal government, since the Albanese administration was sworn in?

(2) If not, why not?

(3) Will the minister take the opportunity offered by the tabling of this federal petition to reaffirm the state government's commitment to PBS listing to substantially ease the financial burden on those with a documented need for these often costly prescription medicines?

Hon SAMANTHA ROWE replied:

I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. On behalf of the Leader of the House, I provide the following answer on behalf of the Minister for Health.

(1) No.

(2)–(3) The state government supports the listing of medicinal cannabis on the PBS whenever these products meet national standards for quality, efficacy and safety, consistent with all other prescription medicines.