Therapeutic Goods Amendment (Medicines Shortages and Other Measures) Bill 2026; Second Reading

Summary

This legislation gives the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) new powers to manage shortages of medicines in Australia, allowing them to take faster action when essential drugs become unavailable. It amends the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 to streamline approval processes and grant temporary authorisation for alternative medicines or treatments when standard options run out. The changes matter because medicine shortages can leave patients without vital treatments — this gives regulators tools to respond quickly to supply problems without waiting for lengthy normal approval procedures.

What happens at this stage

The main debate on whether the chamber supports the broad purpose of the bill. Members speak to its overall merits and concerns rather than the fine print. The government outlines its policy intentions; the opposition and crossbench put their case. This is the stage that determines whether the bill proceeds at all.

Next: Consideration in Detail (House) or Committee of the Whole (Senate), where the bill is examined clause by clause