It’s becoming clear that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Labor are running very scared. With the imminent federal election, they’re terrified Opposition Leader Peter Dutton is cutting through with a jaded electorate open to ejecting a one-term government that talked a big game to win office, but has delivered little.

In declaring it would “save” Medicare with an $8.5 billion cash injection into boosting GP bulk billing to nearly universal coverage by 2030, Labor bets its health policy house on a gimmick doing absolutely nothing to make the Australian healthcare system more fit for purpose, ensuring it is better prepared for a demand tsunami of Baby Boomers reaching the high-need stage of their lives.