Healthcare policy and regulation in Australia
Policy and regulation for pharmaceutical, medical technology, biotech and pharmacy businesses, and the health providers and aged care operators they supply. Below are the official items from the last 14 days that we rated high or medium for Healthcare, each linked to its official source.
What we match to Healthcare
We rate each item for Healthcare. Items on these subjects, among others, are matched to this sector:
- Medicines, PBS and therapeutic goods
- Health services, Medicare and hospital funding
- Health and advertising
- Aged care and disability (NDIS)
- Data, privacy and cyber
Official items from the last 14 days
As at 2:50 am on 21 Oct 2026 (Sydney time), 27 official items from the last 14 days are rated high or medium for Healthcare.
NSW Health warns of surge in hospital presentations linked to peptide use (opens the official source in a new tab)
(c) State of New South Wales. For current information go to www.nsw.gov.au
Public Consultation - TGA fees and charges proposal 2027-28 (opens the official source in a new tab)
AI summaryThe Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is conducting a public consultation on proposed fees and charges for the 2027-28 financial year. The consultation runs from 19 October 2026 to 16 November 2026. The TGA seeks feedback on potential impacts of proposed changes before seeking government approval. Submissions can be made through an online survey. Peak industry bodies are encouraged to present consolidated feedback.
Health Insurance (Medicare Benefits Payable in Respect of Professional Services – Commonwealth Medicare Urgent Care Clinics Program – Tasmania) Direction (No. 2) 2026 (opens the official source in a new tab)
Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 17 October 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.
High-moderate risk changes to permissible ingredients – Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride, pyridoxal 5-phosphate, and pyridoxal 5-phosphate monohydrate) (opens the official source in a new tab)
AI summaryThe Therapeutic Goods Administration is consulting on proposed changes to the Therapeutic Goods (Permissible Ingredients) Determination relating to vitamin B6 in listed medicines. Following scheduling reclassification, oral preparations providing more than 50 mg and up to 200 mg of pyridoxine per recommended daily dose will become Pharmacist Only Medicines from 1 June 2027. Proposed changes include a standardised label statement, amended warning statements with reduced dose thresholds, clarification that vitamin B6-containing medicines must not be directed for use in infants under 12 months, and clarification of age categories for individuals aged 14–18 years. Consultation closes 25 November 2026.
Therapeutic Goods (Permissible Ingredients) Determination (No. 3) 2026 (opens the official source in a new tab)
AI summaryThe Department of Health, Disability and Ageing issued this legislative instrument under the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 to specify ingredients permitted in medicines listed on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods. The determination repeals and replaces the previous determination (No. 2) 2026. It adds five new ingredients: magnesium L-threonate monohydrate, mitoquinol mesilate, gamma glutamylcysteine, styrene/isoprene/styrene block copolymer, and hydrocarbons C6-C20 polymers hydrogenated. It also modifies requirements for existing ingredients including Bacillus coagulans, Bacillus subtilis, Akkermansia muciniphila, and Terminalia ferdinandiana, and corrects typographical errors.
Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 16 October 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.
Expressions of Interest to deliver CHSP Cottage Respite (overnight respite) services for older people in the ACT from 1 July 2027 (opens the official source in a new tab)
AI summaryThe Department of Health, Disability and Ageing is seeking expressions of interest from registered aged care providers to deliver overnight respite services in the ACT from 1 July 2027. This follows the Australian Government's $10 million commitment through the Aged Care Capital Assistance Program to upgrade Burrangiri Aged Care Respite Centre, which will close for up to 12 months from 30 June 2027. The Department prioritises currently funded CHSP providers but welcomes proposals from other registered providers. Maximum annual Commonwealth funding available is approximately $7.9 million. Applications close 17 November 2026.
Healthy Kindy Kids expands to give more Queensland kids a strong start (opens the official source in a new tab)
(c) State of Queensland. Source: statements.qld.gov.au, licensed under CC BY 4.0
Royal Children's To Treat An Extra 13,000 Kids A Year (opens the official source in a new tab)
(c) Copyright State Government of Victoria
NSW steps further into aged care as report warns state not to replace Commonwealth (opens the official source in a new tab)
(c) State of New South Wales. For current information go to www.nsw.gov.au
More Free Lifesaving Overdose Medication Across Victoria (opens the official source in a new tab)
(c) Copyright State Government of Victoria
Health (Notifications by Midwives) Amendment Regulations 2026 (opens the official source in a new tab)
Sourced from the Western Australian Legislation website at 20 October 2026. For the latest information on Western Australian legislation, visit www.legislation.wa.gov.au.
Minns Labor Government delivering more surgeries in Western Sydney (opens the official source in a new tab)
(c) State of New South Wales. For current information go to www.nsw.gov.au
Funding boost to increase awareness and prevention of CMV (opens the official source in a new tab)
(c) State of New South Wales. For current information go to www.nsw.gov.au
Notification Circular 415-26 (opens the official source in a new tab)
Source: Food Standards Australia New Zealand (foodstandards.gov.au), licensed under CC BY 4.0
Bendigo Health to Residential Aged Care Homes (RACH) discharge checklist – RACH Staff evaluation survey (opens the official source in a new tab)
AI summaryThe Department of Health, Disability and Ageing is seeking feedback from staff on Bendigo Health's new Residential Aged Care Discharge Checklist. The checklist is completed for patients transitioning from hospital to residential aged care homes to support safe, timely and consistent discharge planning. An anonymous survey closes 13 November 2026.
Bendigo Health to Residential Aged Care Homes (RACH) discharge checklist – Hospital staff evaluation survey (opens the official source in a new tab)
AI summaryThe Department of Health, Disability and Ageing is seeking feedback from hospital staff on Bendigo Health's new Residential Aged Care Discharge Checklist. The checklist is completed for patients transitioning from hospital to residential aged care homes to support safe, timely and consistent discharge planning. The consultation closes 13 November 2026.
Therapeutic Goods (Legislative Instruments) Notice (No. 16) 2026 (opens the official source in a new tab)
Sourced from the Western Australian Legislation website at 20 October 2026. For the latest information on Western Australian legislation, visit www.legislation.wa.gov.au.
Prince of Wales Private Hospital (opens the official source in a new tab)
AI summaryNSW Health is consulting on a transfer of licence application from Healthe Care P of Wales PTY LTD to operate a 102-bed private health facility at Prince of Wales Campus, Randwick. The facility provides anaesthesia, cardiac surgery, chemotherapy, cosmetic surgery, gastrointestinal endoscopy, intensive care (level 1), interventional neuroradiology, medical, maternity, neonatal and paediatric and surgical services. Written submissions close 22 October 2026.
(c) State of New South Wales. For current information go to www.nsw.gov.au
Emergency Power Arrangements (opens the official source in a new tab)
AI summaryThe Department of Health, Disability and Ageing is consulting on backup power arrangements at residential aged care homes in Tasmania. The consultation seeks updated information to assess sector preparedness for prolonged power outages and emergency events, and to inform coordination and response activities. The consultation opened 8 October 2026 and closes 23 October 2026.
Mental Health Month: Labor to deliver free mental health support for Western Sydney kids (opens the official source in a new tab)
(c) State of New South Wales. For current information go to www.nsw.gov.au