MELBOURNE, 4 November, 2025: The federal Labour government led by PM Anthony Albanese, has on 2 November, 2025, announced its single largest investment in Medicare since its creation over 40 years ago, with a $8.5 billion package that will lead to more bulk billing and more doctors for all Australians.
The PM says, “Labor built Medicare and now we’re strengthening it and improving health care for all Australians. No Australian should have to check their bank balance to see if they can afford to see a doctor. That is not who we are. That is not the future we want for Australia.
“We’re delivering more bulk billing for every Australian, making it easier to see a doctor and saving families money. Delivering on this election commitment lifts up our entire nation and ensures no one is held back, and no one is left behind.”
For the first time, bulk billing incentives will be paid to GPs for every patient they bulk bill. Previously these incentives were only available to children under 16 and concession card holders.
Looking after each other – that’s the Australian way and that's the Labor way.
This week we made it easier to see a GP for free, expanding bulk billing right across the country.
Labor created Medicare, and we'll always protect it. pic.twitter.com/rognXHkdTF
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) November 3, 2025
The Albanese Government’s investment will deliver an additional 18 million bulk billed GP visits every year. This will mean 9 out of 10 GP visits will be bulk billed by 2030, boosting the number of fully bulk billed practices to around 4,800 nationally – triple the current number.
Australian Minister for Health and Ageing says, “I want every Australian to know they only need their Medicare card, not their credit card, to receive the health care they need. Every electorate in the country will now have GP practices that bulk bill every patient. After a decade of cuts and neglect from the Coalition bulk billing was in freefall.”
“These investment builds on the three largest boosts to Medicare rebates in decades. Bulk billing is the beating heart of Medicare and that’s what the Albanese Government is delivering, he said.
Already over 1,000 GP practices that were previously mixed billing have signed up to become fully bulk billing practices. This is on top of the 1,600 GP practices that are currently fully bulk billing. This means that over 2,600 GP practices are expected to be become fully bulk billing around the country and counting.
“Australian patients and families will save hundreds of dollars a year in out-of-pocket costs, with patient savings of $859 million a year by 2030,” says a media release posted on the PM’s website.
It adds: “It is now easier to find a bulk billed GP appointment, with all Australians now eligible for bulk billing incentives.”
GP practices can calculate how much they will be better off and register for BB PIP by visiting health.gov.au/BBPIP.
