Exaggerated GP income claims “misleading,” says RACGP President
06 Nov 2025
The program, launched on 1 November, has seen politicians promote “free visits” and highlight supposed income boosts for full-time bulk-billing GPs. Minister for Health Mark Butler claimed that doctors could increase earnings from $280,000 to $415,000 while doing the same work.
Dr Wright said these figures do not reflect typical GP workloads. “They are based on seeing four patients every 15 minutes, all day, every day—an unrealistic scenario for most GPs,” he said. Female GPs, who generally spend longer with patients, would particularly struggle to meet such assumptions.
RACGP data shows the average consultation length is now 19.7 minutes, rising to 21 minutes for female GPs. Meanwhile, ATO figures reveal the average GP income is $173,436, dropping to $152,166 for female GPs—far below the Minister’s claims.
Dr Wright said the exaggerated income messaging risks undermining trust with GPs and patients alike. “If policymakers want to explain the program properly, they should provide realistic figures based on actual workloads. We are happy to collaborate on this,” he said.
So far, only 15.1% of Australia’s 6,940 practices have committed to fully bulk-billing under the new changes, though Minister Butler expects uptake to grow. Dr Wright stressed that financial incentives alone will not build trust, especially after years of chronic underfunding. “GPs will act in the best interests of their patients, their practices, and their communities,” he said.
Source: RACGP, newsGP,
