‘s youngest-ever senator has revealed she was recently diagnosed with a devastating health condition.
Charlotte Walker, 21, told parliament last week that she suffers from a genetic heart condition called familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), which affects up to one in 250 ns.
It causes dangerously high levels of cholesterol in the bloodstream, significantly heightening the risk of early heart disease and stroke.
‘When I was diagnosed with FH, I was told that, without regular medication, I could have a heart attack much younger than average,’ Senator Walker said.
‘FH causes dangerously high cholesterol levels from birth. Without treatment it increases the risk of early heart disease by up to 20 times.
‘In severe cases, children with undiagnosed FH can suffer heart attacks before they finish school.’
However, Senator Walker said that the condition could be effectively managed by early diagnosis and by taking cholesterol-lowering medication every day.
The Senator for South praised the Labor government’s police to reduce the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) co-payment to a maximum of $25 next year.
‘This policy is a lifeline for every n needing medication but particularly for those of us with medical conditions,’ she added.
Senator Walker, who earns $233,660 a year, said the medication she needed to treat her FH was on the PBS.
She also pointed out a key difference between the United States and – that Americans often need private health insurance just to afford medications that are subsidised by taxpayers in .
‘To put this into perspective, the Institute’s research shows that my medication can cost more than $2,000 in the United States if you do not have private health insurance.
‘This change to the PBS will strengthen our healthcare system and relieve the cost of living. This reform is practical and compassionate, and this reform is necessary for Aussies like me who rely on medication every single day.’
The young politician – the first parliamentarian to be born this millennium – has already made headlines for clashing with One Nation founder Pauline Hanson over the government’s commitment to achieving net zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050.
The Daily Mail also revealed on Monday that she had quietly deleted a controversial video from her Instagram page after it sparked criticism.
In the video, Senator Walker documented a day in her life at parliament, including her 5.27am wake-up, preparation for interviews and running through the halls of parliament to vote.
The clip was met with a chorus of ridicule and anger on social media, with many users branding it ‘cringe,’ ’embarrassing,’ and evidence of taxpayers’ money being wasted.