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Health Legislation Amendment (Prescribing of Pharmaceutical Benefits)

Current status

This bill is currently before Parliament.

Policy area

Health, care & disability

What does this bill do?

The bill would let approved registered nurses prescribe certain medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits SchemeThe Commonwealth program that subsidises listed medicines so eligible patients pay a lower price at the pharmacy., so patients could receive PBSThe Commonwealth program that subsidises listed medicines so eligible patients pay a lower price at the pharmacy.-subsidised medicines from those nurse prescribers.

Why was it introduced?

The bill was introduced because a national registration standard for designated registered nurse prescribers had been approved, but Commonwealth PBSThe Commonwealth program that subsidises listed medicines so eligible patients pay a lower price at the pharmacy. law still needed to recognise this new prescriber group. The government said the change would let endorsed registered nurses work closer to their full scope of practice, improve affordable access to medicines, and help with workforce pressure, especially in rural and remote communities.

Broader context

The bill sits inside a wider scope-of-practice reform agenda. Since 2017, nursing regulators and chief nursing and midwifery officers worked on models for designated registered nurse prescribing. Health ministers approved the national registration standard in December 2024, it started on 30 September 2025, and this bill was then introduced to connect those authorised nurse prescribers to PBSThe Commonwealth program that subsidises listed medicines so eligible patients pay a lower price at the pharmacy. subsidies. Debate largely supported the goal while raising questions about safeguards, the government's broader scope-of-practice response, and whether podiatrists should also get PBSThe Commonwealth program that subsidises listed medicines so eligible patients pay a lower price at the pharmacy. prescribing access.

Key criticism

The debate showed broad support for letting qualified registered nurses prescribe PBSThe Commonwealth program that subsidises listed medicines so eligible patients pay a lower price at the pharmacy. medicines, but several members wanted tighter implementation. Criticism focused on safety safeguards, whether the government had answered the broader scope-of-practice review, and whether the bill left podiatrists outside PBSThe Commonwealth program that subsidises listed medicines so eligible patients pay a lower price at the pharmacy. prescribing access.

Who supported it?

Hon Mark Butler MP introduced this bill.

Introduced in House 26 Nov 2025
Passed House 05 Feb 2026
Debate underway in Senate 01 Apr 2026
Not yet law —

Did it become law?

Not yet

Final passage

Recorded vote so far

1 recorded amendment or procedural vote was found, but no counted vote on the bill itself was recorded.

Days since introduction

196 days

Updated 10 June 2026.

Official record

View on APH

Parliament of Australia bill page

Meaning

What does this bill do?

  1. The bill would let approved registered nurses prescribe certain medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits SchemeThe Commonwealth program that subsidises listed medicines so eligible patients pay a lower price at the pharmacy., so patients could receive PBSThe Commonwealth program that subsidises listed medicines so eligible patients pay a lower price at the pharmacy.-subsidised medicines from those nurse prescribers.

  2. A nurse would need to be an eligible nurse prescriberA registered nurse who meets requirements set by legislative instrument, such as qualifications, experience or endorsement requirements. and be approved by the Secretary before becoming an authorised nurse prescriberThe new PBS prescriber category the bill would create for eligible registered nurses approved by the Secretary. for PBSThe Commonwealth program that subsidises listed medicines so eligible patients pay a lower price at the pharmacy. purposes.

  3. The medicines authorised nurse prescribers could prescribe would be limited to pharmaceutical benefits determined by the Minister, and prescriptions could only be written on or after 1 July 2026.

  4. The approval framework would include criteria, conditions, suspension, revocation and reconsideration pathways for authorised nurse prescribers.

  5. Authorised nurse prescribers would be brought into Professional Services ReviewA peer-review scheme that can investigate whether certain health practitioners have engaged in inappropriate practice in Commonwealth health programs. oversight for PBSThe Commonwealth program that subsidises listed medicines so eligible patients pay a lower price at the pharmacy. prescribing, like other PBSThe Commonwealth program that subsidises listed medicines so eligible patients pay a lower price at the pharmacy. prescribers.

Show source excerpts
  1. The purpose ... is to amend the National Health Act 1953 ... and the Health Insurance Act 1973 ... to enable nurse prescribers to prescribe certain pharmaceutical benefits under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
    Health Legislation Amendment (Prescribing of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2025 explanatory memorandum
  2. An eligible nurse prescriber may apply to the Secretary, in writing, to be an authorised nurse prescriber for the purposes of this Part.
    Health Legislation Amendment (Prescribing of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2025 introduced bill text
  3. an authorised nurse prescriber is authorised to write a prescription on or after 1 July 2026 for the supply of any pharmaceutical benefit determined from time to time by the Minister
    Health Legislation Amendment (Prescribing of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2025 introduced bill text
  4. The Minister may, by legislative instrument, determine either or both of the following: criteria by which applications are to be considered ... conditions to which approvals under this section are subject.
    Health Legislation Amendment (Prescribing of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2025 introduced bill text
  5. The HI Act will also be amended to enable the Professional Services Review (PSR) to review the PBS prescribing by authorised nurse prescribers.
    Health Legislation Amendment (Prescribing of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2025 explanatory memorandum

Context

Broader context for this bill

The bill sits inside a wider scope-of-practice reform agenda. Since 2017, nursing regulators and chief nursing and midwifery officers worked on models for designated registered nurse prescribing. Health ministers approved the national registration standard in December 2024, it started on 30 September 2025, and this bill was then introduced to connect those authorised nurse prescribers to PBSThe Commonwealth program that subsidises listed medicines so eligible patients pay a lower price at the pharmacy. subsidies. Debate largely supported the goal while raising questions about safeguards, the government's broader scope-of-practice response, and whether podiatrists should also get PBSThe Commonwealth program that subsidises listed medicines so eligible patients pay a lower price at the pharmacy. prescribing access.

  1. 2017

    Nurse prescribing model begins formal development

    The minister said the Nursing and Midwifery Board of AustraliaThe national regulator that sets registration standards for nurses and midwives, including the designated registered nurse prescriber standard. and Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officers had conducted research and consultation on nurse prescribing models since 2017.

    Minister's second reading speech ↗
  2. 2023 to 2024

    Scope-of-practice reviews shape the reform

    The minister said the bill advanced reforms identified by the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce and the Unleashing the Potential of our Health Workforce review.

    Minister's second reading speech ↗
  3. Dec 2024

    Health ministers approve nurse prescribing standard

    The explanatory memorandum says Commonwealth, state and territory health ministers approved the registration standard for designated registered nurse prescribers in December 2024.

    Explanatory memorandum ↗
  4. 30 Sept 2025

    Registration standard starts

    The explanatory memorandum says the Endorsement for Scheduled Medicines - Designated Registered Nurse PrescriberA registered nurse endorsed under the Nursing and Midwifery Board standard to prescribe scheduled medicines within the conditions of that endorsement. standard came into effect on 30 September 2025.

    Explanatory memorandum ↗
  5. 26 Nov 2025

    Bill introduced to add PBSThe Commonwealth program that subsidises listed medicines so eligible patients pay a lower price at the pharmacy. access

    Mark Butler introduced the bill so authorised nurse prescribers could prescribe selected pharmaceutical benefits under the PBSThe Commonwealth program that subsidises listed medicines so eligible patients pay a lower price at the pharmacy. rather than leaving patients to pay market prices.

    Parliamentary timeline and minister's speech ↗
  6. 27 Nov 2025

    Senate committee referral opens scrutiny

    The bill was referred to the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee, with a report date of 26 February 2026 recorded in the APH notes.

    APH bill page notes ↗
  7. 05 Feb 2026

    House rejects trial-first amendment and passes bill

    The House defeated Dr Anne Webster's amendment to require a state or territory trial and review before the schedule applied, then passed the bill through the House.

    House division record and parliamentary timeline ↗
  8. 01 Apr 2026

    Senate debate raises scope review and podiatry issues

    Senate debate included Opposition criticism of the government's response to the scope-of-practice review and a Greens call for PBSThe Commonwealth program that subsidises listed medicines so eligible patients pay a lower price at the pharmacy. prescribing access for endorsed podiatrists and podiatric surgeons.

    Senate Hansard and proposed amendments ↗

Legislative route

How did it move through Parliament?

House Senate
Introduced 26 Nov 2025

The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.

Introduced and read a first time

Second reading opened 26 Nov 2025

A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.

Second reading moved

Community Affairs review 27 Nov 2025

The bill was referred to Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee; Committee report (26/02/2026).

Referred to committee

APH bill page notes
Second reading debate 03 Feb 2026

The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.

Second reading debate 04 Feb 2026

The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.

Second reading debate 05 Feb 2026

The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.

House second reading agreed 05 Feb 2026

The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.

Second reading agreed to

Consideration in detail 05 Feb 2026

The chamber considered the bill in detail and dealt with amendments before the next stage.

Consideration in detail debate

House third reading agreed 05 Feb 2026

The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.

Third reading agreed to

Introduced 05 Feb 2026

The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.

Introduced and read a first time

Second reading opened 05 Feb 2026

A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.

Second reading moved

Second reading debate 01 Apr 2026

The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.

Key criticism

The main case against this bill

The debate showed broad support for letting qualified registered nurses prescribe PBSThe Commonwealth program that subsidises listed medicines so eligible patients pay a lower price at the pharmacy. medicines, but several members wanted tighter implementation. Criticism focused on safety safeguards, whether the government had answered the broader scope-of-practice review, and whether the bill left podiatrists outside PBSThe Commonwealth program that subsidises listed medicines so eligible patients pay a lower price at the pharmacy. prescribing access.

The main criticisms sought conditions, staging or expansion of the reform rather than rejection of nurse prescribing altogether.

Safety and monitoring safeguards

Crossbench amendments sought stronger statutory safeguards, including mandatory qualification requirements, excluding Schedule 8 medicinesA category of controlled medicines with stricter prescribing and monitoring rules because of dependence or misuse risks., real-time prescription monitoring, National Medicines RecordA proposed national record mentioned in debate as a way for patients and care teams to access current medicines information. contributions, or a trial and review before the schedule applied.

Raised by Sophie Scamps and Anne Webster Source ↗

Scope review response delayed

Opposition speakers supported the bill but argued the government had not provided a comprehensive response to the 18 recommendations in the Unleashing the Potential of our Health Workforce review.

Raised by Melissa McIntosh and Anne Ruston Source ↗

Podiatrists left outside PBS access

Greens and Jacqui Lambie Network amendments argued that endorsed podiatrists and podiatric surgeons should also be able to prescribe PBSThe Commonwealth program that subsidises listed medicines so eligible patients pay a lower price at the pharmacy.-subsidised medicines.

Raised by Jordon Steele-John and Jacqui Lambie Network Source ↗

Further sources

parlinfo.aph.gov.au ↗ parlinfo.aph.gov.au ↗ parlinfo.aph.gov.au ↗

Votes

Recorded votes

Amendments at a glance

Recorded amendment and procedural votes grouped by chamber. Expand a vote to see the party breakdown.

House

Defeated

Require trial before nurse prescribing starts

Aye 17 No 92

Moved by Anne Webster (The Nationals). Defeated 17 to 92. Support came from Nationals and One Nation. Opposition came from Labor, Greens, Centre Alliance, Katter's Australian Party, and minor parties and independents. Minor-party and independent votes were split.

05 Feb 2026

Defeated 17-92; the bill continued without that trial-first condition.

Party Recorded votes Aye / No
Labor 0 / 79
Nationals 14 / 0
Independent 2 / 6
Unknown 0 / 4
Greens 0 / 1
Centre Alliance 0 / 1
Katter's Australian Party 0 / 1
One Nation 1 / 0

These are amendment votes, not the final passage vote on the bill itself.

Parliamentary debate

Who spoke, and what they said

Start here — lead voices

All speeches by bloc

Labor

25 speakers · 28 contributions · 25 unclear

  1. Justine Elliot ★ No summary available.

    Australian Labor Party • MP • 05 Feb 2026

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
  2. Alice Jordan-Baird ★ No summary available.

    Australian Labor Party • MP • 04 Feb 2026

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
  3. Tom French No summary available.

    Australian Labor Party • MP • 04 Feb 2026

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
  4. Dan Repacholi No summary available.

    Australian Labor Party • MP • 04 Feb 2026

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
  5. Julie-Ann Campbell No summary available.

    Australian Labor Party • MP • 03 Feb 2026

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
  6. Basem Abdo No summary available.

    Australian Labor Party • MP • 05 Feb 2026

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
  7. Louise Miller-Frost No summary available.

    Australian Labor Party • MP • 04 Feb 2026

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
  8. Jo Briskey No summary available.

    Australian Labor Party • MP • 04 Feb 2026

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
  9. Susan Templeman No summary available.

    Australian Labor Party • MP • 04 Feb 2026

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
  10. Libby Coker No summary available.

    Australian Labor Party • MP • 05 Feb 2026

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
  11. Jerome Laxale No summary available.

    Australian Labor Party • MP • 05 Feb 2026

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
  12. Madonna Jarrett 2 contributions No summary available.

    Hansard records 2 separate contributions by Madonna Jarrett on this bill. They are grouped here so the speaker is listed once.

  13. David Moncrieff No summary available.

    Australian Labor Party • MP • 05 Feb 2026

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
  14. Tim Ayres No summary available.

    Australian Labor Party • Senator • 05 Feb 2026

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
  15. Trish Cook No summary available.

    Australian Labor Party • MP • 04 Feb 2026

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
  16. Jodie Belyea No summary available.

    Australian Labor Party • MP • 04 Feb 2026

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
  17. Kara Cook No summary available.

    Australian Labor Party • MP • 04 Feb 2026

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
  18. Ash Ambihaipahar No summary available.

    Australian Labor Party • MP • 04 Feb 2026

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
  19. Renee Coffey No summary available.

    Australian Labor Party • MP • 04 Feb 2026

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
  20. Tony Zappia No summary available.

    Australian Labor Party • MP • 05 Feb 2026

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
  21. Ali France No summary available.

    Australian Labor Party • MP • 04 Feb 2026

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
  22. Ellie Whiteaker No summary available.

    Australian Labor Party • Senator • 01 Apr 2026

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
  23. Zhi Soon 2 contributions No summary available.

    Hansard records 2 separate contributions by Zhi Soon on this bill. They are grouped here so the speaker is listed once.

  24. Anne Stanley No summary available.

    Australian Labor Party • MP • 05 Feb 2026

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
  25. Mark Butler ★ 2 contributions No summary available.

    Hansard records 2 separate contributions by Mark Butler, including an amendment-moving contribution. They are grouped here so the speaker is listed once.

Coalition

5 speakers · 5 unclear

  1. Anne Webster No summary available.

    National Party • MP • 04 Feb 2026

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
  2. Michael McCormack No summary available.

    National Party • MP • 04 Feb 2026

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
  3. Tim Wilson No summary available.

    Liberal Party • MP • 04 Feb 2026

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
  4. Anne Ruston No summary available.

    Liberal Party • Senator • 01 Apr 2026

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
  5. Melissa McIntosh No summary available.

    Liberal Party • MP • 03 Feb 2026

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗

Greens

1 speaker · 1 unclear

  1. Jordon Steele-John No summary available.

    Australian Greens • Senator • 01 Apr 2026

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗

Minor parties and independents

5 speakers · 5 unclear

  1. Sophie Scamps ★ No summary available.

    Independent • MP • 04 Feb 2026

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
  2. Monique Ryan No summary available.

    Independent • MP • 04 Feb 2026

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
  3. Helen Haines No summary available.

    Independent • MP • 03 Feb 2026

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
  4. Allegra Spender No summary available.

    Independent • MP • 04 Feb 2026

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
  5. Kate Chaney No summary available.

    Independent • MP • 04 Feb 2026

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗

Record

Full record

Full chat