Coalition to match ‘dollar for dollar’ Labor’s plan to make GP visits cheaper in $8.5bn Medicare boost

<p>Less than half of Australians were always bulk billed when they saw a GP in 2023-24, government data says</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2025/feb/23/australia-news-live-one-dead-after-overnight-police-standoff-in-tamworth">Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates</a></li><li>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></li></ul><p>The Coalition says it will match “dollar for dollar” Labor’s <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/feb/22/labor-bulk-billing-85bn-medicare-investment-election-campaign">landmark $8.5bn proposal to dramatically increase Medicare bulk-billing rates</a> for GP visits, pledging to meet Anthony Albanese’s commitment to make nearly all doctors’ appointments free.</p><p>Doctor’s groups have welcomed Labor’s pledge to fund 18m extra bulk-billed GP visits annually, but have warned some patients will still miss out because government rebates are sometimes still too low to cover the cost of all appointments. The health minister, Mark Butler, says nine out of 10 GP visits will be covered by 2030 under Labor’s plan, and has accused the Coalition of “cooking the books” on bulk-billing statistics during their time in office.</p><p><strong><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=copyembed">Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email</a></strong></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/feb/23/coalition-to-match-dollar-for-dollar-labors-plan-to-make-gp-visits-cheaper-in-85m-medicare-boost">Continue reading...</a>