On February 1, 1961, Australia became only the second country in the world to legalise the oral contraceptive pill ("the pill"), a game changer for Australian women, empowering them to have greater control over their reproductive health. There has been little innovation in the 60 years since.

Despite some 80 per cent of Australian women having used the pill at some time - many for decades at a time - and our proud history of giving women greater control over their healthcare, we are an outlier among comparable countries in just how difficult it is for women to access the pill.

Australian women are not just denied a choice in how they access the pill - it's costing them $170 over five years in GP visits, money women in other countries don't have to spend.

It's time to innovate again. Let's give Australian women greater and more convenient access to their contraception.

In Australia, pharmacists have had some scope in being able to continue supply of the pill, for women who have already stabilised on it without evidence of any adverse outcomes. However, pharmacists are currently only allowed to give patients one months' continued supply of the pill every 12 months, and only for variants listed on the PBS - excluding about 40 per cent of Australian women who take a variant not listed on the PBS.

Community pharmacists in Australia have both the training and the expertise to do more.

In the United Kingdom, Canada, and New Zealand, the pill is readily available through community pharmacies. Even Queensland will be moving down this path next year.

For those women who have stabilised on the pill, it makes sense for pharmacists to have the ability to continue to renew their prescription - not just in emergencies or to ensure continuing supply - to help relieve pressures on both women and the health system.

Particularly for women from low socioeconomic backgrounds, or those who can't get an appointment with a bulk billing doctor, this common-sense change would make women's lives easier and have a positive impact on their budgets.

Already, waiting times to see GPs are growing, forcing more and more Australians to visit hospitals for routine healthcare. This is placing unnecessary stress on women, their budgets, and the government's healthcare budget. Making the change to bring Australia into line with other countries would give GPs more time to spend with their patients, treating more serious conditions.

Nationally, we are expecting to see a shortfall in the number of GPs, whilst hospitals are struggling to cope with population growth. We need to be doing as much as possible to support doctors in treating patients who need their skills and expertise, so they aren't spending their time doing work which could easily be done by a community pharmacist.

The ACT government has taken significant steps to making healthcare more affordable and accessible with the rollout of Walk-In centres across Canberra, and has recognised the capacity of health professionals like nurse practitioners to do more.

Community pharmacists are the next logical step. The ACT should take the lead and work with the other states and territories to enhance access to - and affordability of - the pill.

Our proud history of empowering women to take control over their own healthcare is at risk. Let's change that so by the end of 2020, we aren't still behind the rest of the world - or Queensland.