Transcript: ABC Radio – Modernise Medicare
The Australian Medical Association has launched its Modernise Medicare campaign, calling for reform to an out-of-date Medicare system to ensure Australian patients can get the care they need from their GP.

AMA's Modernise Medicare policy — developed following consultation with our members — proposes a new 7-tier standard consultation item structure that will support patients to spend more time with their doctor by significantly increasing funding for the longer consults that today’s patients need. The AMA’s campaign is also calling on the government to tackle workforce challenges and encourage a more multi-disciplinary approach to general practice healthcare where healthcare teams work together, under one roof.
Transcript: AMA SA President Dr John Williams on ABC Adelaide Breakfast with Jules Schiller and Sonya Feldhoff.
(3 February, 2025)
Subjects: Medicare, general practice, primary care
JULES SCHILLER: John, talks us through some of the headline tenants of this proposal that you’re launching today.
Dr JOHN WILLIAMS: We’re very lucky in Australia that we have one of the best general practice systems in the world, but as you said Medicare was built 40 years ago and it’s not fit for purpose now. It really needs to fit the changing environment. We have more chronic disease, more complex conditions to deal with, and we need to be able to spend more time with our patients and we’d like to see a system that supported that.
SONYA FELDHOFF: How is this different from the AMA's general call for a larger rebate to GPs generally?
Dr JOHN WILLIAMS: If a doctor spends longer with their patient, they are financially penalised for that. So there's not a financial incentive for doctors to spend time with their patient. Doctors are spending a lot of time with their patients and we think that this should be paid well.
JULES SCHILLER: What are the standard appointment times at the moment, John?
Dr JOHN WILLIAMS: The most common appointment is 15 minutes. So this will change the increments from longer periods of time to ten minute increments.
SONYA FELDHOFF: But there's also a six minute spot, isn't there?
Dr JOHN WILLIAMS: Yes, that's the first one - under five minutes. And then it increases in ten minute increments from there. It's really important that we maintain GP standards and this is one step. It's really important that we also protect the other parts of our health system. We know that for every dollar spent in general practice it saves the rest of the system $13. So this is really important that the taxpayers’ money is spent well and sensibly. Spending it in general practice is excellent for a good spend of the healthcare dollar. And also it's important that everyone has in their pocket a Medicare card and that pays the predominant amount of amount of the bill for the GP. But now that is down to half. So we want to increase the value of the Medicare card in your pocket.
SONYA FELDHOFF: So are you saying, John, that doctors shouldn't be penalised for having longer consultations with patients? So if you have a complex medical issue you need to spend longer with the GP - you shouldn't be penalised for that?
Dr JOHN WILLIAMS: Exactly. Yes, exactly. Our biggest concerns are mental health and chronic disease in aged care. And these all take a lot of work and a lot of time. And we really want GPs to be able to do that.
SONYA FELDHOFF: Doctor John Williams Whenever we talk about GP shortages it's often talked about university placements. One of your ideas is to see 500 more GP places in universities, I believe. And yet many people say it's the AMA who has been restricting or obstructing that up until now.
Dr JOHN WILLIAMS: What we're talking about is GP training, so this is after they've completed their university. .
SONYA FELDHOFF: Oh, so you don't want more university places? You don't see a role in that?
Dr JOHN WILLIAMS: Well, we do see a role in that. Yes. You're right. In the past we haven't supported that. But at the moment we do need more university places for doctors. Absolutely.
JULES SCHILLER: What's the GP shortfall projected? You know, in about ten years?
Dr JOHN WILLIAMS: I don't have the figures at the top of my mind, but it's certainly projected to decrease. So, yes – we’re really looking at serious problem. So many of our GPs are over 50 and they have ten, 15 years left. So we are looking at a large drop off. In relation to younger GPs, there are more women than ever in our workforce, which is great, so we need more flexible work conditions for them as well.
SONYA FELDHOFF: Before we let you go Dr John Williams, I'm not sure if you're aware SA Health has announced changes to its policy. It wasn't that long ago that we had very strict Covid conditions and restrictions in this state, but SA Health staff, doctors and nurses, if they test positive to Covid, will no longer have to or stay away from work. What do you think about that change?
Dr JOHN WILLIAMS: Well, there's two things here. There're the industrial conditions for doctors. We know everyone's under a lot of pressure in the system, so we really hope their leave conditions will be respected and supported. So that's one part of it. The other part of it is the safety of medical staff and patients. What's been discussed is what conditions people can't come to work. And obviously it depends on their symptoms. So we hope that it's sensible and safe for our patients.