Australians will see a major expansion of bulk billing under an $8.5 billion plan from the Albanese government, promising 18 million more GP visits each year at no cost to patients. The investment will also fund hundreds of nursing scholarships and the largest GP training program in the country’s history, aiming to deliver thousands of new doctors by 2028.
Households struggling with out-of-pocket costs could see relief, with patient savings projected to reach $859 million annually by 2030. The initiative reverses what Labor describes as years of underfunding, pointing to the $8.3 billion Medicare freeze initiated by Peter Dutton a decade ago.
For the first time, bulk billing incentives will extend to all Australians, along with a new payment scheme for GP practices that commit to bulk billing every patient. Under the plan, nine out of ten GP visits will be bulk billed by 2030, and the number of fully bulk-billed practices is expected to triple to around 4,800 nationwide.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reinforced Labor’s commitment to strengthening Medicare, declaring that Australians should only need their Medicare card, not their credit card, when seeking medical care. He emphasised that cost should never be a barrier to seeing a doctor and described the reform as one that lifts the entire nation.
Health Minister Mark Butler took direct aim at the opposition, stating that every dollar lost under Dutton’s Medicare freeze would be restored. He recalled the backlash from the medical community, citing Dutton’s record as the worst Health Minister in Medicare’s history.
The package includes a tripling of the bulk billing incentive for pensioners, concession cardholders, and families with children—an initiative credited with restoring bulk billing access for 11 million Australians. From 1 November, this incentive will be extended to the entire population, making it easier for people to access care without worrying about cost.
The new Bulk Billing Practice Incentive Program will offer an additional 12.5% loading payment on Medicare rebates to fully bulk-billed practices. With this financial support, around 4,800 practices will be in a better position if they switch entirely to bulk billing.
The workforce pipeline is also receiving attention. Labor’s plan includes 400 new nursing scholarships and funding to train 2,000 new GP trainees annually by 2028—the most ambitious GP training initiative in Australian history. The government argues that increasing the number of trained professionals will improve healthcare accessibility across the country.
A $617 million package will further expand the healthcare workforce. This includes $265.2 million to grow GP training, adding 200 places annually from 2026 and increasing to 400 per year from 2028. An additional $204.8 million will be directed towards salary incentives for junior doctors specialising in general practice. Paid parental and study leave for trainee GPs will also be introduced with a $43.9 million investment.
Medical student opportunities will expand with $48.4 million for 100 Commonwealth Supported Places per year from 2026, increasing to 150 per year by 2028. Additional places will be allocated for First Nations students to study medicine. Meanwhile, 400 nursing and midwifery scholarships will be funded to help extend their qualifications.
Labor’s investment in the medical workforce follows efforts to counter the strain left by the pandemic. The government has fast-tracked GP qualifications for doctors from the UK, Ireland, and New Zealand, allowing them to be recognised in as little as one to three months. Nurses with substantial experience from the UK, US, Ireland, and Spain are also seeing faster accreditation.
The number of junior doctors entering GP training is climbing. More than 1,750 are expected to begin government-funded training in 2025, rising to 2,000 per year by 2028. The expansion will see more training in rural and remote locations through the Remote Vocational Training Scheme.
The Albanese government will also invest $248.7 million to create fairer incentives for junior doctors choosing general practice as their specialty. This includes a $30,000 incentive payment to address the pay gap that GP trainees face when leaving the hospital system, as well as up to 20 weeks of paid parental leave and five days of study leave per year.
With bulk billing rates declining in recent years and growing frustration over the affordability of healthcare, the government sees this initiative as a crucial step in ensuring access for all. The opposition’s track record on Medicare remains a central talking point for Labor, as it seeks to contrast its vision for universal healthcare with past cuts under the Coalition.
The government’s approach leaves little doubt: Medicare will be at the forefront of political debate in the lead-up to the next election.
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