Australian Medical Association criticises parties for failing to get creative for long-term Medicare reform

The Australian Medical Association has issued a report card to the major parties ahead of the Federal election, chiding them for a lack of creativity to reform an out-of-date Medicare system.

The AMA 2025 Federal Election Health Report Card assessed the health policy promises of Labor, the Coalition and The Greens against its own policy wish-list, with clear indications the AMA found the major parties’ proposals lacklustre.

AMA president Danielle McMullen said bulk-billing incentives in general practice had been among the most significant investments across the campaign after Labor rolled out an $8.5 billion funding package to bolster Medicare in February.

The Coalition quickly matched the pledge and the Greens followed suit, cementing Medicare as a key battleground in Saturday’s election.

“While we expect this will improve access to health for some more vulnerable people, the opportunity to rethink and redesign our out-of-date Medicare rebate structure has been missed,” Dr McMullen said.

“We need to future proof our health system and look at what Australian patients need, which is more time with their GP.

“Our rebate system isn’t structured in a way that supports GPs to provide that time.”

The Labor Party and the Coalition both committed to incentives for doctors to specialise in general practice and expanding training placements, but Dr McMullen said the patchwork approach to plug workforce gaps would not cut it long-term.

“The AMA is calling for an independent workforce agency to develop evidence-based planning on workforce to ensure the medical workforce is distributed where it’s needed and for more funding for the workforce incentive program so general practices can help meet the complex healthcare needs of Australia’s growing and ageing population,” she said.

Dr McMullen highlighted “some good commitments in women’s health” from Labor in its March budget, noting the Coalition moved quickly to match this and other commitments.

One issue that set the Coalition apart was its support for a rural, regional and remote health strategy. The AMA said this would bring key issues in regional areas into focus and “ensure they are addressed through a coordinated and evidence-based approach.”

But the AMA said overwhelmingly, it was the lack of beds and prolonged ambulance ramping that was driving the crisis in hospitals across the country, with no creative solutions coming from any party.

“Whoever wins government must expedite a new (National Health Reform Agreement) with funding that supports increased capacity and improved performance,” Dr McMullen said.