The 2025-26 Federal Budget shows a welcome investment in health with a strong commitment to strengthening primary care and improving access to medicines for all Australians. Hepatitis Australia supports the Government’s investment in Medicare, increased funding for public hospitals and health services, and reductions to the cost of PBS-listed medicines, which have received bipartisan support.
The previous two-year budget measure provided dedicated funding for hepatitis B and hepatitis C initiatives, supporting the implementation of the National Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C Strategies. Hepatitis Australia was pleased to develop modelling to support this investment, ensuring resources were directed toward immediate and effective interventions.
Hepatitis Australia remains committed to working alongside government, community, researchers, and clinicians to ensure these efforts lead to meaningful progress in eliminating viral hepatitis by 2030.
As we approach the next federal election, Hepatitis Australia urges all parties to maintain a multipartisan commitment to:
- Achieving Australia’s goal of eliminating hepatitis B and hepatitis C by 2030
- Fully implementing the National Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C Strategies
- Supporting community hepatitis organisations in reaching marginalised and highly stigmatised communities affected by viral hepatitis
With only 24.5% of people living with chronic hepatitis B receiving regular care, urgent national action is needed to meet Australia’s 2030 hepatitis elimination targets.
Lucy Clynes, CEO of Hepatitis Australia, said:
"Every Australian deserves to be able to access the health care and services they need. Australia is within reach of eliminating hepatitis B and hepatitis C, however, almost 300,000 people in Australia are still living with these chronic conditions, leading to almost 1,000 deaths per year.
Hepatitis Australia supports full implementation of the new Fourth National Hepatitis B and Sixth National Hepatitis C Strategies, which lay Australia’s pathway to elimination by 2030. Hepatitis Australia is committed to working with Governments to ensure these strategies are released and fully implemented.”
