GP bulk billing surges across Australia as Anthony Albanese bets big on health
Bulk billing rates increased in the first three months of 2026 as the Albanian government continues to invest heavily in healthcare by launching an initial nationwide campaign.
Data released by the Ministry of Health revealed that the national GP bulk billing rate increased by 4.6 percent to 81.9 percent in the January-March period.
The biggest increase was seen in the Northern Territory with an increase of 13.7 per cent, while NSW and Victoria both increased by 4-5.5 per cent to between 83.7-85.6 per cent.
Meanwhile, the Australian Capital Territory lagged behind, rising 1.4 per cent to just over 54 per cent.
Elsewhere, Queensland reported bulk billing of 79.5 per cent, up 4.0 per cent; South Australia rose 5.9 points to 80.4 per cent; Western Australia 74 per cent, up 4.6 points; and Tasmania 78 per cent, up 5.7 points.
The rate in the Northern Territory was 89.8 per cent.
Health Minister Mark Butler said the results “absolutely” showed the government’s initiatives to strengthen Medicare were working.
“They are changing the face of frontline service delivery and helping to keep costs low for Australians – good for their health and good for their pockets,” he said.
“Under the previous government we not only stopped the free fall of Medicare, we reversed it and dramatically strengthened it.
“The government’s Medicare Urgent Care Clinics continue to change the rules in delivering frontline care, with three million visits reached for urgent care, but
“Life-threatening cases.”
The number of bulk-billed non-privileged patients rose to 72.5 percent in the first quarter, an 8.5 percent increase compared to the same period last year.
The government said there are currently more than 3,800 bulk billing clinics, of which more than 1,400 had previously done mixed billing.
As a result, approximately 97 percent of the population is within a 20-minute drive of a bulk billing clinic.
The findings emerged as Mr Butler launched the first national menopause and perimenopause campaign.
The campaign aims to help women better understand symptoms, access reliable information and seek support, and follows recommendations from the Senate Inquiry into Menopause and Perimenopause, which found women were misinformed and stigmatised.
“Menopause should not come as a surprise, but too long silence and stigma have left too many women in the dark,” Minister for Women Katy Gallagher said.
“Ensuring women have easily accessible, reliable, evidence-based information is crucial to supporting their health and wellbeing. It is also important that women’s families and wider society are aware.”
“It’s important that this campaign reflects the different experiences of perimenopause and menopause, because no two women experience it the same and every woman deserves to be seen and supported.”
The campaign will be broadcast on TV, cinema and social media as well as the internet until December 2026.
