“...opioid-based painkiller packs, including codeine and hydromorphone, will be cut in half, from 20 tablets to 10, and no repeats will be allowed unless a special exemption is sought and received by a doctor.” https://www.smh.com.au/healthcare/painkiller-packs-cut-down-to-size-as-opioid-crackdown-intensifies-20200527-p54x1b.html

“(only for short-term management of severe pain) and modified release products[2] will reinforce that opioids should only be used when other analgesics are not suitable or have proven not to be effective” https://www.tga.gov.au/alert/prescription-opioids-hub

So there’s no long term opioid option under the changes, based on what I’m reading. And you have to try every other pain med first before opiates

“Modified release opioids are not indicated to treat chronic non-cancer pain (other than in exceptional circumstances), or to be used for 'as-needed' pain relief.” This idea that cancer is the worst pain is deeply harmful

There’s thousands of people with chronic musculoskeletal and rheumatoid disease and other similar conditions that are incredibly painful and to withhold opiates to all those patients will be nightmarish for many