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

Summary

This amendment to the Therapeutic Goods Act gives Australia's medicine regulator new powers to respond quickly when essential medicines run short, allowing them to fast-track approvals and manage supply problems before they become critical. The changes modernise how the Therapeutic Goods Administration can handle shortages of important treatments, potentially including temporary import arrangements or expedited reviews when Australian supplies are threatened. For patients, this means better protection against missing out on vital medicines during supply disruptions, while for pharmaceutical companies it creates a clearer process for dealing with shortage situations. The amendment addresses a real problem exposed by recent global supply chain issues—without these tools, Australians could face dangerous gaps in access to needed treatments when production or distribution problems occur internationally.

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