GP fees are hitting more Australians than they did a few years ago.

There’s a lot of talk about a crisis in bulk-billing, with many people reporting they’re unable to see a doctor without paying an out-of-pocket fee.

But the biggest, most urgent problem is in the communities where most people pay fees, so-called bulk-billing “deserts”.

These deserts are more likely in poorer areas, so the people who most need bulk-billing are missing out.