Put Medicare's GP bulk-billing incentive payments on a clear legal footing — back it or block it?

This bill creates a clear, permanent legal framework for the Commonwealth's primary care incentive payment programs — worth more than $1.4 billion a year — including the Medicare Bulk Billing Practice Incentive Program, which pays GP clinics extra to bulk-bill. The government says these programs currently run without a dedicated legislative basis, which weakens administration, compliance and integrity checks. Eligibility rules and payment amounts stay the same, and existing participants won't need to reapply. The bill also allows some routine decisions to be handled automatically with review rights, and renames the Health Insurance Act 1973 as the Medicare Act.

All speakers recorded were Labor MPs backing the bill. An amendment moved by the member for Lindsay was rejected 39 votes to 92.