Politically, releasing 10 pages of modelling purporting to show how the expansion of bulk-billing incentives to all Australians would make mass bulk-billing profitable was a weird thing for the Minister for Health and Aged Care to do.

It seemed unlikely that those invested enough to read the numbers — GPs themselves — would change their minds given they know the reality of their own circumstances.

And it was equally unlikely that Joe or Jane Voter would be poring over the numbers either, given Medicare is rarely a planet they have reason to visit close-up.

So, is this a 10-page propaganda flyer to ensure Mr Butler is not finding himself a new seat on the far side of the House of Representatives next week, or indeed a spot in a Centrelink queue?