THE HON MARK BUTLER MP
MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND AGED CARE

THE HON STEPHEN JONES MP
ASSISTANT TREASURER
MINISTER FOR FINANCIAL SERVICES
MEMBER FOR WHITLAM

ALISON BYRNES MP
MEMBER FOR CUNNINGHAM

More GPs are bulk-billing patients in the Illawarra and Southern Highlands as a direct result of the tripling of the bulk-billing incentive by the Albanese Government.

In the month before the bulk-billing incentive was tripled on 1 November 2023, 74% of all GP visits were bulk-billed in the electorate of Whitlam, and 70.6% in the electorate of Cunningham.

The bulk-billing rate has since increased to 80.2% in the electorate of Whitlam and 75.9% in the electorate of Cunningham to May 2024.

Across the nation, there were over two million additional bulk-billed visits since 1 November 2023.

Illawarra and Southern Highlands residents have also saved a combined $4.78 million on the cost of their medicines, thanks to the Albanese Government’s cheaper medicines policies. This includes the government’s landmark 60-day prescriptions reforms and the largest cut to the maximum patient co-payment in the 75-year history of the PBS.

This week, the Albanese Government also delivered the second largest increase to Medicare rebates in 30 years, with $900 million in additional Medicare funding. This comes on top of the $940 million delivered last year, in the largest increase in 30 years.

This means that in just two years, the Albanese Government has increased Medicare rebates by twice as much as the former government did in their 9 years in office.

Seven months of official Medicare billing data highlights that after a decade of cuts and neglect from the Liberals, the slide in the GP bulk-billing rate has stopped and bulk-billing rates continue to improve each month.

Nationally, the GP bulk-billing rate was 79.0% in May, a rise of 3.4% since the higher bulk billing incentives came into effect on 1 November.

Australians living in regional and rural areas have seen the biggest increases, with an estimated additional 900,000 bulk billed visits since the higher bulk-billing incentives came into effect.

Quotes attributable to Minister Butler:

“Doctors’ groups have called our tripling of the bulk-billing incentive a ‘game changer’ – and clearly it is in the Illawarra and Southern Highlands.

“After a decade of cuts and neglect to Medicare by the Liberals, bulk-billing was in freefall.

“The pressure on general practice began when Peter Dutton was Health Minister and he tried to do away with bulk-billing by introducing a fee on every single visit to the GP, and then started a six-year freeze on Medicare rebates.

“The Albanese Government is committed to making it easier for people to see a bulk-billing doctor, and that is exactly what is happening right around the country, particularly in rural and regional Australia.

“This is a win all round – for patients, doctors and the health system – and it is helping make Medicare stronger.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Whitlam Stephen Jones:

“We know how important it is for locals to be able to access bulk-billed health services in our region. After a decade of the former Coalition Government ignoring the need to invest in Medicare, we’re getting local bulk-billing rates back up to scratch.

“Labor introduced Medicare, and our government is making significant investments to ensure that patients can continue to see a bulk-billing doctor.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Cunningham Alison Byrnes:

“After a 6-year freeze of Medicare rebates under the previous government, Labor has been rebuilding the system and reviving general practice.

“We are committed to providing cost-of-living relief, and with more than 85 per cent of locals in the Illawarra and Southern Highlands now receiving a bigger tax cut, over 78 per cent of patients now being bulk-billed for their GP visits and $4.78 million saved locally on the cost of medicines, I’m pleased to see this support reaching those who need it most.

“We know there’s more to do and we will continue fighting every day to take pressure off local Illawarra families.”