Medicare

Ryan argued that Medicare was being undermined by low schedule fees and rising costs, making universal healthcare increasingly difficult to access. Ryan cited reports indicating that most GPs found rebates insufficient to provide preventive care, leading to high out-of-pocket expenses for patients. Ryan noted that in the Kooyong electorate, only a small fraction of consultations were bulk-billed, with average gap fees nearing $50. Ryan called for schedule fees to double to ensure GPs could adequately manage complex conditions and preventive health services without financial hardship.

Abdo supported the motion, asserting that the previous government had frozen Medicare rebates for six years, causing billions in losses to primary care. Abdo detailed the new bulk-billing incentive program, which offers an additional 12.5 per cent payment to practices that bulk-bill all patients, aiming for nine out of ten visits to be bulk-billed by 2030. Abdo highlighted the opening of 90 Medicare urgent care clinics and a new mental health centre in the Calwell electorate. Abdo contrasted these actions with the former government's proposal for GP co-payments, which Abdo claimed would have increased costs for patients.

McCormack criticised the government's health policies, particularly regarding rural and remote Australia, arguing that urgent care clinics were not distributed fairly. McCormack disputed claims of bulk-billing collapse under the previous government, stating that rates had dropped under Labor from 88 per cent to 77 per cent. McCormack argued that changing distribution priority areas had caused doctors to leave regional practices for urban centres. McCormack highlighted the Murray-Darling Medical Schools Network as a successful initiative for retaining doctors in regional areas, contrasting it with what McCormack described as ineffective bulk-billing policies.