Labor and the Coalition’s billion dollar plans to strengthen Medicare and improve GP access

No matter who claims victory in this year’s Federal Election, Australians are set to win after both Labor and the Coalition pledged billions of dollars of investment in Medicare.

For some time now Aussies have been all too aware that fewer GPs have been offering bulk-billing to patients, with rising operational costs and increasing service complexity to blame.

However, that could all be set to change after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced Labor’s plan to invest $8.5 billion to expand bulk billing and training for GPs and nurses.

Albanese said his government wants nine out of 10 visits to the GP to be free by the end of the decade.

“That’s an ambitious goal but people deserve ambition from their government on Medicare,” he said.

“Because just as every Australian wants the best possible health care for their family, our government wants the best possible health care for every Australian.

“If the Australian people entrust our Labor government with a second term, a single, straightforward objective will be the foundation of our health policy.”

Under the funding commitment, Albanese added that every GP practice would be offered a new incentive payment to bulk bill, helping about 4,800 practices across Australia. Additionally, a new GP training program, set to launch in 2026, will be the largest in Australian history and aim to produce 2,000 new GPs annually. The initiative will also create 400 new scholarships for nurses and midwives.

In response to Labor’s pledge, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and health spokeswoman Anne Ruston announced the Coalition’s own “historic” $9 billion plan.

“By absolutely every measure, the Albanese government has failed Australians on health,” Senator Ruston said on Sunday, February 23.

“Every Australian knows that it’s harder and more expensive to see a GP.”

RACGP President Dr. Michael Wright welcomed the scale of the government’s investment, noting it underscores the critical need for a sustainable general practice workforce.

“We welcome the Government’s workforce initiatives to build Australia’s specialist GP workforce into the future,” he said.

“The GP attraction initiative will match the wages, and parental and study leave entitlements of GP trainees to those of hospital-based doctors. This will remove one of the most significant barriers to junior doctors choosing a career in general practice.

“Similarly, the Government’s commitment to expanding GP training numbers will ensure more Australian communities can access GP care close to where they live. This is so important because there is no substitute for the high-quality care you get from a specialist GP who knows you and your history.”

However, Wright cautioned that not everyone would be bulk billed, as patient rebates are still too low to cover the cost of care.

“There is no doubt Medicare has been under funded for years and GPs have been bearing this cost for too long. So, the Government’s $8.5 billion Medicare package is certainly welcome,” Wright said.

“However, GPs will need Government support to understand and adjust to the proposed new funding model, if they chose to do so.

“Extending bulk billing incentives to everyone won’t necessarily mean everyone gets bulk billed, because patient rebates are still too low to cover the cost of care.

“Ultimately, we need to make sure GPs are enabled to deliver high-quality care that is sustainable and doesn’t put unreasonable pressure on practitioners to see people quickly or make it harder for people to get more time with their GP.”

A federal election is due by May 17.

-with AAP.