Committee: Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee
Date referred: 27 November 2025
Submissions close: 27 March 2026
Reporting date: 24 November 2026

Terms of Reference

That the following matter be referred to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee for inquiry and report by 30 June 2026:

The Government’s changes to rural, regional and remote Medicare access and funding, with particular reference to:

1. the impact of the 1 November 2025 Medicare changes on access to primary care, including telehealth, for rural, regional and remote Australians;
2. the financial sustainability of independently owned rural general practices under current Medicare funding and incentive structures;
3. the extent to which current Medicare settings contribute to avoidable emergency presentations and preventable hospital admissions in rural, regional and remote areas;
4. the adequacy of Medicare support for the mixed-team models of care required in rural, regional and remote communities, including the roles of general practitioners, nurse practitioners, nurses, allied health professionals and visiting specialists;
5. the impacts of current Medicare rules and incentive arrangements on large corporate providers compared with small, community-embedded rural clinics;
6. reforms needed to ensure Medicare is fair, workable and sustainably funded for rural, regional and remote Australians, including the requirement for rural stress-testing of future changes; and
7. any other related matters.

Extensions of time to report

• On 26 March 2026, the committee was granted an extension of time to report until 24 November 2026.