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Peter Breadon

Peter Breadon

The Examiner

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Many Australians who need specialist healthcare are snowed under by enormous fees

Many Australians who need specialist healthcare are snowed under by enormous fees

Specialist doctors' fees in Australia are out of control. Since 2023, specialist fees have grown three times faster than inflation. Subscribe now...

previous day 20

Canberra Times

Peter Breadon

Australians are paying ‘extreme’ specialist fees. Here’s how the government can rein in costs

Australians are paying ‘extreme’ specialist fees. Here’s how the government can rein in costs

The cost of seeing a psychiatrist, paediatrician or other medical specialist is skyrocketing, and reforms are targeting low-hanging fruit. We need to...

sunday 30

The Conversation

Peter Breadon

One simple change could save us millions at the pharmacy checkout

Your supermarket can discount bread. Your servo can discount petrol. But strict rules stop your pharmacy discounting most medicines. Subscribe now for...

18.07.2026 40

Canberra Times

Peter Breadon

Future pharmacy should put patients and taxpayers first

A new report from The Grattan Institute recommends that responsibility for setting pharmacy remuneration be shifted to the Independent Health and Aged...

13.07.2026 50

Pearls and Irritations

Peter Breadon

Unfair fees and low competition: why the pharmacy sector needs a shake up

No other Australian health industry group gets to negotiate its own funding behind closed doors, with no public evidence to justify the decisions.

13.07.2026 30

The Conversation

Peter Breadon

Urgent care clinics, medicines and vaccines: what the budget means for Australians’ health

This budget was much more about funding existing health services than reform.

13.05.2026 40

The Conversation

Peter Breadon

Here's how a city as big as Canberra forms GPs deserts

A Senate inquiry is looking into rural healthcare. The biggest problem it should tackle is "GP deserts" - communities in the bottom 5 per...

02.05.2026 50

Canberra Times

Peter Breadon

Emptying bins and photocopying: nurses’ skills are too often wasted in general practice

Australia has more nurses per person than many countries. Allowing nurses in general practice to use all their skills could help meet the growing...

02.03.2026 30

The Conversation

Peter Breadon

Child vaccination rates are falling fast, with some regions barely reaching 80%

Before COVID, Australia reached its target of 95% of one-year-olds fully immunised. Now, lower coverage means more babies are at risk of whooping...

17.02.2026 30

The Conversation

Peter Breadon

Bulk-billing rates are up. But there’s more to delivering the best possible care

The latest figures suggest it’s easier now to find a bulk-billing GP. But poorer patients can still miss out, for one important reason.

13.02.2026 40

The Conversation

Peter Breadon

The government has promised a $25 billion boost to hospital funding – but only hints at real reform

The deal struck between states and territories and the federal government follows a long-running standoff. Here’s what’s been agreed, and what’s...

30.01.2026 40

The Conversation

Peter Breadon

Hospitals are under pressure. These changes could save $1.2 billion a year – and fund 160,000 extra hospital visits

Hospitals are feeling intense pressure, yet the states have been asked to rein in spending. Here’s how they can get more care for every hospital...

18.11.2025 30

The Conversation

Peter Breadon

Specialist doctor fees are far too high. Australia’s next national health funding deal is a chance to change that

10.11.2025 40

The Guardian

Peter Breadon