Oliver Peterson: Australian correspondent on bulk billing seeing boost in Australia after health investment

Over in Australia, the Health Minister says Australians are reaping the benefits of record investment in Medicare after bulk billing rates when up ahead of schedule.

The national rate rose to 84.1 percent for the June 2026 quarter - an increase of nearly 5 percent.

Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says the bulk billing changes are impacting patients of all ages - and the Government's aiming for a 90 percent target.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
International Correspondence with Ends and Eye Insurance, Peace of mind
for New Zealand business. Olie Peters and ABC Perth Radio
Drive presenters with us Ali better.

Speaker 2 (00:11):
How good is your American accent?

Speaker 3 (00:13):
It was kind of rubbish. Ah, you're taking the mickey out, great,
Yeah you do, you do? Yeah, you've been quite mean.
Hey these two guys. Have they been given the rap
for what happened at the airport?

Speaker 2 (00:23):
Well yeah they have, but look that the Transport Minister
has defended what they've done in the end. But for
those wondering, this Jetstar flight was preparing to leave Sydney
for the Gold Coast had a slam on those brakes
because the crew spotted a Katar Airways aircraft being towed
across the tarmac. Now they came with the metters of
each other. That crew member from Jetstar stuff at a
minor injury when the plane breaks suddenly it's the second

(00:45):
you miss though. This is the problem header at Sydney
Airport in about two weeks. We had two Quantus aircraft
narrowly avoiding a collision late last month and the Transport
Safety Bureau says the pilot's actions actually prevented what could
have been a much more serious incident. There's already a
five over staffing at Sydney Airport, so this is the
bigger issue now, and the union representing the air traffic
controllers says that they're just simply und enough. Control staff

(01:07):
have been working excessive over time, doing more than twenty
hours of overtime a week and the system has effectively
been propped up by overtime and the staff are now exhaustant,
they're reluctant to keep doing it, so the transport misstress,
I said. Catherine King sees she wants to improve rostering
practices from next month and that air Services need to
carefully manage the airport through the rest of August. Well,

(01:29):
don't know what we're going to automatically find these extra
air traffic controllers.

Speaker 3 (01:33):
Yeah, fairpoint. Now what's going on with the doctors and
the bulk billing.

Speaker 2 (01:37):
Well, the government would be ringing a bell today. They'd
be happy with this one, Heather, because they've been asking
obviously Australians to go and see their GP and saying
there are more bulk billing places available at now They've
given some new data out today that the National Bulk
Building Rights Climb to eighty four percent. That's up five
percent from almost a year ago. Obviously that helps when

(01:57):
the federal government pumps up Medicare to the tune of
eight ero point five billion dollars, so we all pay
in some way. The big changes that both billing incentives
have been expanded to patients now all ages, rather than
just being concentrated on children and concession card holders. So
this they've got ninety percent target. The government has for
visits being free by twenty thirty to GPS, and the

(02:19):
government will say, well, this will obviously help with your
household bills and access to healthcare. But there's a little
bit of devil in that detail. So obviously if you
can find a bulk billing appointment, and I've been hearing
that on talk back all day over here, it's really
really difficult. So I don't know how people are finding
these extra doctors doctor's appointments being made available.

Speaker 3 (02:38):
Hey, how does this in New South Wales? This bond
transfer system work.

Speaker 2 (02:43):
Yeah, it's a funny one because I'd never heard of it,
to be honest, and it's called it's called this smart
rental bond. So instead of paying paying a completely new
bond while you're waiting for your old bond to be returned.
If you're moving places, you can transfer that bond to
your new property. So it's about four one thousand dollars.
The headline is the four thousand dollars relief. So the
government in New South Wales that says it's moving renters

(03:06):
by saving them that extra money, and it's designed to
stop that double the bond problem. But there is a
catch because it's not simply four thousand bucks being handed
back to renters. You're transferring the bond that you've already paid,
and there's a twenty five dollars fee for using the scheme.
So if the new property's bond is going to be
more than what you're paying today, you'll have to pay
that difference. And if there's still a claim against your

(03:27):
old bond. I you've left the carpets poorly. Maybe you know,
you decide to paint the walls a different color, or
you left up your you know, your Warriors poster on
the wall because you thought that they were going to
win the premiership because Luke Metcalf played so well on
Friday night. Then you might have to pay a little
bit of money to get the blue tack.

Speaker 1 (03:41):
Off the wall.

Speaker 3 (03:42):
Hey do you not believe it? Are you not a believer?

Speaker 2 (03:45):
Not?

Speaker 1 (03:45):
What?

Speaker 2 (03:45):
So? I'm a Dragons fan and Luke metcalf is going
to be playing for the Dragons next year, so you
can have your turn next to you, mate, I'm on
the Wars. I love the Wars anyone but Penrith right,
and I'll be coming honorary key.

Speaker 3 (03:57):
We just not in the other code. Like I don't
like your side, but I like your rugular league side.

Speaker 1 (04:01):
No one really likes the rugby side anymore. Thank you, Ollie,
appreciate it, mate. Oliver Peterson, ABC Perth Radio Drive Presenter.
For more from Heather Duplessy Allen Drive, listen live to
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