In many ways 2025 was the year of Medicare. 

Since being elected in May, I’ve had the privilege of representing my electorate of Lyons in Federal Parliament and seeing firsthand how Labor’s commitment to strengthening Medicare has played out in my home state. 

In my role as Assistant Minister for Health, I’ve spent much of this year listening, to families, to older Tasmanians, to health workers, and to people managing illness alongside the pressures of everyday life.

I’ll be honest, the thought of getting my cervical screening test has never been something I’ve looked forward to.  Not because I didn’t understand how important it was, but because the experience made me anxious. I’d wait until I could get an appointment with a female GP. I’d put it off when life got busy. And when I finally walked into the consult room, I would hold my breath until it was over.  

Last year when I went in for my screening, instead of the usual procedure, my GP handed me a self-collect swab. It was simple. It was private. It took seconds.

Tasmanians are set to pay less for medicines in 2026 with the latest reduction in out-of-pocket prescription costs.

From 1 January, the Albanese Labor Government has reduced the maximum cost of all PBS-listed medicines to $25, and frozen costs at $7.70 for concession card holders.

This latest saving comes on top of earlier policies to save Tasmanians money at their local pharmacy, including:

SALLY SARA, HOST: We're staying with federal politics now I'm turning into the government. Patrick Gorman is the Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister and Assistant Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. Patrick Gorman, welcome back to Breakfast.

PATRICK GORMAN, ASSISTANT MINISTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER: Sally, great to be with you and with your listeners on this Australia Day. So happy Australia Day to all.

ROSS SOLLY, HOST: My guest is Patrick Gorman the Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, Assistant Minister for the Public Service, also Assistant Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. Patrick Gorman, good evening to you, and happy new year to you.

PATRICK GORMAN, ASSISTANT MINISTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER: Good evening, Ross. And I'll add to that list. I'm a proud Australian, and I think no more so than when we get to these awards, which really do showcase the best of all of us.

Welcome, everyone, to Parliament House.

This year is an especially proud one for Australia’s democracy as our Federation turns 125 years old.

This milestone has added a new word to our nation’s vocabulary – ‘quasquicentenary’, meaning 125th anniversary.

And I don’t want to reveal the winner of the award early.

But I think we all know that ‘quasquicentenary’ will be hard to beat for the Macquarie Dictionary Word of the Year.

But even so, this milestone gives us an opportunity to reflect.

Communities, schools, businesses and local organisations can now apply for grants to celebrate this year’s National NAIDOC Week, which will run from 5 to 12 July 2026.

The Albanese Government is providing up to $3 million to support local NAIDOC Week events and activities across the country.

Applications for the 2026 NAIDOC Local Grants are now open, with funding available across three streams: educational institutions (up to $1,500), small-scale grants (up to $10,000), and large-scale grants (up to $25,000).

TOM CONNELL, HOST: Joining me for the first time this year, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, Patrick Gorman and former Liberal MP Jason Falinski. Thank you both, as ever, for your time. I'm sure, a pretty moving and sad day, frankly, in the Parliament. Patrick, what's really stuck with you? Reading accounts on the days since December 14th?

PATRICK GORMAN, MEMBER FOR PERTH: it's great to be here with some friends in the electorate of Perth in Northbridge today at Sexual Health Quarters. We've got Rebecca White, the Assistant Minister for Women, the Assistant Minister for Health and Ageing and the Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health.

PATRICK GORMAN, MEMBER FOR PERTH: it's great to be here with some friends in the electorate of Perth in Northbridge today at Sexual Health Quarters. We've got Rebecca White, the Assistant Minister for Women, the Assistant Minister for Health and Ageing and the Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health.