Senator Anne Urquhart

Duty Senator for Braddon  

Labor Senator for Tasmania

Chief Government Whip in the Senate

OPINION PIECE

Building a Stronger Medicare for King Islanders

This weekend I was with the Prime Minister when he announced the single largest investment in Medicare since its creation over 40 years ago, expanding the current bulk-billing incentives to all Australians, meaning that by 2030, 9 out of 10 GP visits will be bulk billed. We are also increasing GP training places and incentives to attract more doctors to GP practice and rural practice in remote areas, including King Island.

We are making this significant investment because Federal Labor values the health of all Australians, not just some. We are committed to ensuring you can access a GP, whether you’re in Hobart or Currie. Because if you don’t have your health, if you don’t have the security of knowing that a great doctor and the best medicine are always in reach and you put off seeing a doctor because you can’t afford it or access it because of your location, then it’s not just the person who suffers, our whole community pays a price.

That’s why building a stronger Medicare is at the heart of our government and it will be at the heart of our election campaign.

From 1 November 2025, the rebate for a standard GP consultation will increase from $42.85 to $89.31, and for a long consultation it will increase from $82.90 to $134.36. This means more patients will be able to see the doctor for free.

And expanding bulk-billing incentives is just one part of how we will build a stronger Medicare.

Since coming into government we have made the biggest reduction to Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) medicine prices since the scheme was introduced.

We’ve also cut the cost of medicines by allowing doctors to write 60 day prescriptions, saving you money and time.

We are also delivering more choice, lower costs and better health care for women. Too often women aren’t diagnosed soon enough, are overprescribed medication, and have symptoms that are not properly investigated or treated.

We have announced over $500 million in funding for women’s health including the first PBS listing of new oral contraceptive pills in more than 30 years, saving women hundreds of dollars a year.

We are also funding more choice, lower costs and better access to long-term contraceptives, with larger Medicare payments for IUDs and birth control implants saving up to $400 in costs.

There will also be more support for women experiencing menopause, and the first PBS listing for new hormone therapies in over 20 years, saving women hundreds of dollars a year.

We will also trial the sale of contraceptives and treatment for uncomplicated UTIs directly from pharmacies

Our women’s health measures are about alleviating pain, reducing delays in diagnosis, avoiding unplanned pregnancies, and improving menopause care. It’s the right thing to do.

Only Labor will deliver more choice, lower costs and better healthcare for all Australians.