The Latest Breaking News from Mark Butler

Health sector welcomes the broad vision of taskforce report, but worries it’s short on details, a timeline and money

There was a lot of build-up to today’s National Cabinet meeting. Federal Health Minister Mark Butler has long said Medicare is in the worst shape it has ever been, and the premiers said health reform should be the top priority at the meeting.

The number of Australians who delayed or avoided seeing their doctor because they could not afford it soared by almost 50 per cent in the past year, new figures have revealed.

Anthony Albanese wants federal, state and territory healthcare systems to work together better but faces calls from leaders to increase Commonwealth spending.

The government's new urgent care clinics are designed to ease pressure on hospital emergency departments but doctors have cast doubt on whether they will.

State and territory leaders outline their wishlists before national cabinet meets on Friday

A New South Wales minister says it "absolutely beggars belief" that a federal program to assist with GP recruitment trialled in the state is being expanded to Tasmania — but not to other NSW regions.

Damning report is part of doctors’ push for 50-50 federal and state funding ahead of national cabinet meeting

The Australian Medical Association has called for extra health funding, saying almost no public hospitals are delivering care in the recommended time-frame.