The Hon Stephen Jones MP
Assistant Treasurer
Minister for Financial Services
Member for Whitlam
Carol Berry
Candidate for Whitlam
JOINT MEDIA RELEASE
Wednesday 26th February 2025
The Albanese Government is committed to making healthcare more accessible and affordable, with an $8.5 billion boost to Medicare ensuring nine in ten GP visits will be bulk billed by 2030.
Labor’s plan includes:
- Expanding bulk billing incentives – following the Government’s historic tripling of bulk billing incentives last year, this new investment will further increase GP visits covered under Medicare, benefiting millions of Australians.
- More GPs, more nurses, better access – additional funding will support the training and placement of more doctors and nurses, particularly in regional and rural areas.
- Stronger Medicare infrastructure – supporting modernised digital health services and ensuring GP clinics remain viable, well-resourced, and patient-focused.
This initiative builds on the Government’s strong track record in healthcare, including last year’s historic increase to bulk billing incentives, cheaper medicines under the PBS, and the strengthening of urgent care clinics.
In the electorate of Whitlam, the benefits of this investment are already being seen:
- The bulk billing rate has risen from 74.00% in October 2023 to 79.40% in December 2024, marking an increase of 5.40 percentage points.
- This has resulted in an additional 100,558 GP visits being bulk billed, ensuring more people can access a doctor without financial barriers.
Labor’s plan ensures that Medicare remains the beating heart of Australia’s healthcare system, supporting families, seniors, and vulnerable communities with affordable and accessible medical care.
Quotes attributable to Member for Whitlam, Hon. Stephen Jones MP:
“It is clear that only Labor will protect and strengthen Medicare. We did it when we tripled the bulk billing incentives, and we will do it again.”
"The constituents of the Whitlam electorate will suffer under a Coalition government. We cannot allow Dutton to make further cuts to our healthcare system or repeat false claims about healthcare investment.
“The Bulk Billing rate has risen 5.4% in my electorate under the Albanese Labor Government, and it will continue to grow under a re-elected Albanese Labor Government.”
Quotes attributable to Candidate for Whitlam, Carol Berry:
“As a key election pledge, this landmark investment will make it easier for Australians to see a doctor without worrying about out-of-pocket costs. It reinforces Labor’s promise to build a healthcare system that supports all Australians to access affordable and accessible medical care.”
“The Coalition has stated that they support Labor’s Medicare investment, but we know the Liberals can be unreliable when it comes to Medicare, having attempted to fundamentally undermine its universality in the past.”
“To pay for their Medicare commitment, the Dutton government plans to strip 36,000 public sector jobs. This means that people in our region will lose their jobs and people in our community who rely on government services, such as Centrelink, DVA and the NDIS will feel the decline in quality of service.”
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Media Contacts:
Georgia Roff [Media and Comms Advisor] - 0428 160 565
