Medicare may have been a game-changer when it first arrived, but the Australian Medical Association (AMA) says it’s now decades behind where it needs to be. Today, the AMA launched its Modernise Medicare campaign, calling for urgent reform to ensure Australians can access the care they need from their GPs.
AMA President Dr Danielle McMullen didn’t hold back. “Medicare was revolutionary in the 1980s, but Australia’s population has aged, chronic disease has surged, and GP consultation structures have failed to keep pace,” she said.
The current system is geared towards quick consultations, even as patient needs grow more complex. Decades of underfunding, stagnating rebates, and the long-running Medicare freeze have left general practice struggling to keep up. “We are at a point of no return,” Dr McMullen warned. While the 2023–24 budget made an initial investment in general practice, the government itself acknowledged that deeper reform was necessary.
Without action, the funding gap will only widen, making it impossible for future governments to fix. According to the AMA, properly funding longer GP consultations would not only improve patient care but also relieve pressure on Australia’s overstretched hospitals.
A key proposal in the AMA’s policy is a new 7-tier consultation system, ensuring that patients who need longer appointments receive the support they require. More time with GPs, Dr McMullen argued, means better health outcomes and fewer hospital admissions.
Another urgent issue is Australia’s GP workforce. “The failure to invest in general practice has created a system struggling to meet demand. We need meaningful policy shifts to turn this around,” Dr McMullen said. The AMA predicts a shortfall of 10,600 GPs by 2031–32, and to counter this, it is calling for 500 additional GP training places, along with 500 early-career training rotations.
However, simply adding places won’t be enough if GP trainees remain underpaid compared to their hospital counterparts. Dr McMullen pointed to recent trials of a single-employer model as a positive step but emphasised that this model needs to be applied nationwide.
The AMA is also pushing for greater investment in nurses and allied health professionals within general practice. Expanding multidisciplinary teams under one roof, led by GPs, would help ensure patients receive well-coordinated care while easing pressure on the wider health system.
Without swift and meaningful reform, Medicare’s ability to deliver quality healthcare will continue to erode. The AMA’s message is clear: the system is outdated, patients are suffering, and unless action is taken now, the future of accessible, effective healthcare in Australia is at risk.
Support independent community journalism. Support The Indian Sun.
Follow The Indian Sun on X | Instagram | Facebook
Support Independent Community Journalism
Dear Reader,The Indian Sun exists for one reason: to tell stories that might otherwise go unheard.
We report on local councils, state politics, small businesses and cultural festivals. We focus on the Indian diaspora and the wider multicultural community with care, balance and accountability. We publish in print and online, send regular newsletters and produce video content. We also run media training programs to help community organisations share their own stories.
We operate independently.
Community journalism does not have the backing of large media corporations. Advertising revenue fluctuates. Platform algorithms change. Costs continue to rise. Yet the need for credible, grounded reporting in a multicultural Australia has never been greater.
When you support The Indian Sun, you support:
• Independent reporting on issues affecting migrant communities
• Coverage of local and state decisions that shape daily life
• A platform for small businesses and community groups
• Media training that builds skills within the community
• Journalism accountable to readers
We cannot cover everything, but we work to cover what matters.
If you value thoughtful reporting that reflects Australia’s diversity, we invite you to contribute. Every donation helps us maintain the quality and consistency of our work.
Please consider making a contribution today.
Thank you for your support.
The Indian Sun Team
