Today marks the biggest expansion of bulk billing in Medicare’s history — delivered by the Albanese Labor Government.

From today, every Medicare-eligible Australian will benefit from expanded bulk billing, with GPs receiving higher Medicare payments every time they bulk bill a patient.

After years of under-investment, too many Canberrans have struggled to find affordable healthcare. But Labor's reforms are already making a difference for families across the ACT.

In just two years, bulk billing rates in the ACT have risen by 4%, with an additional 44,784 bulk billed visits delivered since we tripled the incentive for children under 16 and concession card holders.

And this is only the beginning — after today's changes, we expect more than 200,000 additional GP visits each year in the ACT to be fully covered by Medicare. That means families will save hundreds of dollars in out-of-pocket costs — delivering on our promise that the only card you’ll need at the GP's is your Medicare card, not your credit card.

I visited Dr Villepin and his team at Scullin General Practice yesterday and he told Andrew Leigh and I that the changes Labor are delivering will help their practice support more people in their local community. Watch here.

Today's reforms are making a real difference for Canberra families. Alongside my ACT Labor colleagues we've delivered:

• Better care for women, saving women up to $400 a year on contraceptives like the pill, IUDs, and implants. We're improving access through 22 new Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Clinics, including one in the ACT, expanding Medicare coverage for longer GP consults and menopause health checks, and allowing pharmacists to treat uncomplicated UTIs and prescribe the pill.
   
• $24.3 million to fund local healthcare, including $10.5 million to establish three new bulk billed GP practices in the ACT.
   
• $10 million to expand respite care beds.
   
• $3.8 million to secure the Tuggeranong Interchange Health Co-Op.
   
• A new Medicare Urgent Care Clinic in Woden is on the way, joining our five existing clinics that are already taking pressure off local emergency departments and giving Canberrans faster access to urgent care when they need it.
   
• Capping the cost of PBS medicines to $25 from 1 January 2026.
   
• Free walk-in Medicare Mental Health Clinics in Acton and Tuggeranong.

Labor built Medicare - and together these measures make sure its stronger, fairer and more accessible for every Canberran.