This Month
GP earnings to top $400k a year under bulk-billing plan: Butler
Labor says GPs will earn $124,000 a year more than they did three years ago, once its bulk-billing incentives are implemented.
The 4 moments that mattered in the first election debate
Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton faced off on Tuesday, sparring on economic management, cost-of-living pain and their vision for Australia.
Labor’s not so secret weapon to win SA comes with limitations
Anthony Albanese has picked up the playbook of popular South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas, hoping that health funding will secure victory over Peter Dutton.
March
Everything you need to know about the new tax cuts
Every Australian taxpayer will get a tax cut next year – a surprise measure that Labor will campaign strongly on at the election.
Chalmers splashed 20 major spending measures, but just 3 big savings
Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ budget contains expenditure at a 40-year high outside of the pandemic. Economists warn promises of future restraint seem unrealistic.
Trump could target our healthcare system next. We don’t need to panic
If there are retaliatory tariffs because of standing up for our PBS jewel, so be it. That would be unfortunate and unfair, but Australia can weather it.
Trump says Federal Reserve should cut rates
Donald Trump says rates should come down as tariffs start to ease into the economy; migrant arrivals fall 32pc from record. How the day unfolded.
Dutton promises to match Labor’s $25 prescription drugs pledge
The opposition has moved swiftly to match the government’s commitment to cut the cost of medicines by $6.60 per script.
Doctor fees to be laid bare under comparison site upgrade
Labor says patients will be able to check average specialist fees and out-of-pocket costs under an upgrade to the failed Medical Costs Finder website.
Labor working to shield local manufacturers from Trump’s trade war
Moves to strengthen anti-dumping protections come as the government’s hopes fade Donald Trump will exempt Australia from tariffs on steel and aluminium imports.
February
Fink’s plan for fixed-rate home loans stinks for banks
Readers’ letters on Larry Fink’s push for 30-year fixed-rate home loans in Australia; Peter Dutton’s stance on power investment; Labor’s Medicare plan; the global responsibility of Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping; social cohesion.
Dutton says ‘me too’ as Albo bets the house on ‘saving Medicare’
The Coalition has buckled to Labor pressure. But how both sides will finance their foolish bulk-billing magic pudding remains to be seen.
Dutton to match Labor’s GP funding in big-spending campaign pledge
The opposition leader promises to match Labor’s $8.5 billion GP funding pledge as he seeks to defend his record on health.
Why a Mediscare campaign won’t be so easy this time around
Labor’s Medicare package offers politically popular relief for GP visits but may not convince voters losing confidence in Australia’s public health system.
Genesis Capital gets back into general practice with Ochre Health
Genesis has partnered with doctor Hamish Meldrum who will keep a significant shareholding in the business.
Buffett to increase his bet on Japan’s trading houses
The billionaire will be allowed to increase his stake in the trading houses above 10 per cent; Elon Musk threatens all federal workers with the sack; Jim Chalmers flies to Washington. See how the day unfolded here.
My patient Shirley would benefit from more bulk billing. Here’s why she won’t
Labor is shining an 8.5 billion-watt spotlight on general practices to divert attention from the elephant in the room that everyone in Australia has seen.
Doctors say not all GP visits will be free under Labor plan
Medical professionals welcome the $8.5 billion Medicare overhaul but urge targeted funding to care for patients who need it most.
Albanese makes $8.5b Medicare overhaul his signature election policy
The prime minister will make Medicare the centrepiece of his re-election campaign, promising to spend big to eliminate patient costs for visits to the doctor.
Bulk billing pledge is Mediscare with an $8.5b price tag
The new spending, alongside $600 million to boost the supply of nurses and general practice doctors, will be added to the nation’s burgeoning debt and structural deficit pile.