Health Legislation Amendment (Prescribing of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2025
Amends the National Health Act 1953 and Health Insurance Act 1973 to enable authorised nurse prescribers to prescribe certain pharmaceutical benefits under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
Summary from the official bill homepage.
Became law
| Act | Health Legislation Amendment (Prescribing of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Act 2026 |
|---|---|
| Number | No. 65, 2026 |
| Assent | 6 Jul 2026 |
| Status | In force |
Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 21 Oct 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.
Progress
| Date | Step |
|---|---|
| House | |
| 26 Nov 2025 | Introduced and read a first time |
| 26 Nov 2025 | Second reading moved |
| 3 Feb 2026 | Second reading debate |
| 4 Feb 2026 | Second reading debate |
| 5 Feb 2026 | Second reading debate |
| 5 Feb 2026 | Second reading agreed to |
| 5 Feb 2026 | Consideration in detail debate |
| 5 Feb 2026 | Third reading agreed to |
| Senate | |
| 5 Feb 2026 | Introduced and read a first time |
| 5 Feb 2026 | Second reading moved |
| 1 Apr 2026 | Second reading debate |
| 30 Jun 2026 | Second reading debate |
| 1 Jul 2026 | Second reading debate |
| 1 Jul 2026 | Second reading agreed to |
| 1 Jul 2026 | Committee of the Whole debate |
| 1 Jul 2026 | Third reading agreed to |
| House | |
| 1 Jul 2026 | Consideration of Senate message |
| Senate | |
| 1 Jul 2026 | Message from House of Reps reported |
| 2 Jul 2026 | Consideration of House of Reps message |
| 2 Jul 2026 | Finally passed both Houses |
| 6 Jul 2026 | Assent |
Divisions on this bill
- 5 Feb 2026 Health Legislation Amendment (Prescribing of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2025 - Consideration in Detail - Application of amendments Negatived House 17–92
- 1 Jul 2026 Consideration of Senate Message Carried House 90–43
- 1 Jul 2026 Consideration of Senate Message Carried House 90–43
- 1 Jul 2026 Second Reading Carried Senate 33–19
- 1 Jul 2026 Second Reading Carried Senate 32–19
- 1 Jul 2026 Health Legislation Amendment (Prescribing of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2025 - in Committee - Podiatrists prescribing pharmaceutical benefits Carried Senate 31–21
Official record: bill homepage at aph.gov.au, full text and documents on ParlInfo.