Pollies resurrect plan for state-owned GP practices that universally bulk-bill

Under Dean Winter's plan, the state would essentially cover overhead costs for bulk-billing GPs.

Tasmanian politicians have committed to launching state-owned bulk-billing GP practices, reviving a Queensland proposal that died in 2024 when Labor lost power.

This month, Tasmanian Labor leader Dean Winter pledged his party would build five clinics where taxpayers would cover all overhead costs for GPs who universally bulk-billed, with the GPs keeping 100% of the Medicare cash.

Hours later, the Liberal Party, which is fighting to stay in power after a no-confidence vote in Premier Jeremy Rockliff, matched the promise to build five clinics.

However, it remained coy on whether it would copy Labor’s model exactly if it won the 19 July election.