GP for Pollies

References & Methods

Every dataset, URL, and calculation method - so you can audit every claim.

Tier 1: Primary authoritative sources

MBS Online - Department of Health and Aged Care

Item descriptors, schedule fees, benefit amounts, incentive item rules

MBS Quarterly Statistics Dashboard (2023–24)

Service volumes and benefits paid by MBS group

ABS Consumer Price Index

CPI index numbers for inflation adjustments

AIHW - Bulk billing of GP attendances over time

Bulk billing trends, geographic variation, and policy phase analysis

AIHW - Medicare funding of GP services over time

Primary care benefits breakdown and GP funding share

ATO Occupation Statistics (2022–23)

Taxable income by occupation unit group via data.gov.au

Commonwealth GP Workforce Data Portal

GP counts, services, FTE by Modified Monash geography

Tier 2: Training and accreditation

RACGP - Australian General Practice Training

AGPT pathway: 3–4 years full-time training

ACRRM - Training Program Requirements Policy

Rural generalist: min 4 years FTE (36 months core + 12 months advanced)

RACGP - Business Toolkit (Practice Costs)

Identifying the cost of providing GP services

Tier 3: Employment comparators

Queensland Health - MOCA7 Certified Agreement

Career Medical Officer classification and pay points

Queensland Health - MOCA7 Wage Table

CMO base salaries: L10–L13 ~$170k–$188k (from 1 July 2025)

Tier 4: MBS item references

MBS Book - July 2014 (PDF)

Historical item 23 benefit: $37.05

MBS Online - Item 23

Level B standard GP consultation

MBS Online - Item 36

Level C GP consultation (≥20 min)

MBS Online - Item 75870

Bulk billing incentive (MM1, Level B/C/D/E face-to-face)

MBS - BBI Changes Factsheet (1 Nov 2025)

Expanded BBI eligibility + BBPIP design

Calculation methods

Real rebate decline (item 23, 2014–2025)

Nominal change: $37.05 → $43.90 = +18.5%.
CPI change: 105.9 (Jun 2014) → 141.7 (Jun 2025) = +33.8%.
Real change: (1.185 / 1.338) − 1 = −11.4%.
Reported as "roughly 11%" real decline.