The federal government’s new $8.5 billion investment in general practice is a powerful painkiller. It will bring welcome relief to patients facing GP fees, and to a primary care system that’s under pressure. But it won’t cure the system’s underlying problems.

The package, which was quickly matched by the Opposition, includes $7.9 billion over four years to promote bulk-billing. Bonus payments for bulk-billing will expand from children and concession card holders to all patients. The government will pay clinics 12.5% more if they bulk bill all their services. And hundreds more GPs will be trained each year.

These major investments should increase bulk-billing, which has fallen sharply since the pre-pandemic high of 86% in 2019. Last year, only 78% of GP services were bulk-billed, and it was much less for people without concession cards.

Taking action on GP fees is an important step, because a growing........

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