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“This will save patients money on visits to the doctor and the medications themselves. It will save the Federal Government well over $1 billion over four years. 

“Less frequent prescriptions will allow both doctors and pharmacists to focus on preventative medicine and other aspects of healthcare that otherwise they just don’t have the time to do. 

“This is a win for both professions, and the healthcare of Western Australians. 

“It is a win, win, win.” 

On the subject of winning (some might say losing), the Federal Government also announced a ban soon to be implemented on using credit cards for online betting. If you watch any sport, for example, you might share my concern for the scourge of betting advertising, which is particularly concerning when it’s normalising gambling activity for young, vulnerable members of society. 

There’s an old saying that you should only gamble what you can afford to lose, and this is an even worse situation where people are gambling money they don’t even have, at a time when the rising cost of living is playing havoc with household budgets. The ban on using credit cards for online gambling will help those victims of online gambling and also improve the lifestyle of themselves, their family and the healthcare of their family and themselves. 

Well, the Federal Government didn’t stop there with its interventions (you’d think there was a Budget coming up!) 

As reported in The West Australian: 

Plain packaging of e-cigarettes and a ban on flavours are set to be introduced as part of a $234 million crackdown on vapes. 

The Federal Government is trying to make the potentially lethal products less attractive to users especially young adults and children. One in six teenagers aged 14-17 has used vapes in Australia, compared with one in four in the 18-24 age group. 

By contrast, only one in 70 people aged in their 50s has tried the product. 

Health Minister Mark Butler will on Tuesday unveil the Commonwealth’s plan for stronger regulation and law enforcement of e-cigarettes, including new controls on their importation, contents and packaging. 

The Government will work with States and Territories to shut down the growing black market in illegal vaping. 

I gave my support to these measures. 

“Vaping is the new nicotine business delivery model of big tobacco and it is absolutely necessary that we protect our children from nicotine addiction and the health dangers of vaping,” I told the media.  

“The AMA has lobbied for changes in the regulation for vaping and welcomes these changes. Of non-nicotine vapes, two-thirds of these, when tested, actually contain nicotine. Vapes also contain poisonous chemicals and known carcinogens.  

“If you’re a parent out there with a high school child and you don’t think that your child has tried vapes, there’s a one in seven chance that they have actually tried vaping. Non-smokers who vape are three times more likely to take up cigarettes. It is absolutely essential that we protect our children from nicotine addiction and the dangers of vapes. The AMA recognises the strength and foresight of Health Minister Mark Butler in making these changes.” 

So there you have it. One of those unusual times when you can totally get behind a series of government announceables that are actually more substance than style. If the prescription changes were considered a win, win, win, well three big wins combined certainly expand the winners’ circle. No gambling required.