14 March 2025
Consumers Health Forum of Australia (CHF) is the national peak body advocating for Australian healthcare consumers. CHF’s priorities for the 2025 Federal Election focus on two principles: creating an A+ healthcare system, to ensure better access, affordability, and consumer agency, and reducing inequity.
Australians should never have to choose between their health and their wallet. CHF believes in a system where everyone, no matter who they are, where they live or what they earn, can access the healthcare they need.
CHF is advocating for government to prioritise addressing the social, economic, and systemic barriers to good health. This includes ensuring equitable outcomes for First Nations consumers and improving access to healthcare for rural and remote Australians by tackling service shortages and financial barriers. We’re also calling for greater consumer involvement in shaping healthcare policies, ensuring the system works for everyone.
What we’re asking for
1. Make healthcare more affordable
Increase Medicare bulk-billing incentives to encourage more practitioners to bulk bill, particularly in areas with low rates of bulk-billing and socio-economic disadvantage.
Reform the Medicare Safety Net to ensure it is more effective in reducing costs.
Introduce a system to ensure automatic application of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme Safety Net pricing.
2. Improve access to healthcare
Work towards universal affordable dental care and implement the next 10-year National Oral Health Plan.
Support longer and more flexible specialist referrals, so consumers don’t have to keep going back to their GP.
Allow other healthcare providers to refer patients to specialists where appropriate.
3. Support consumer agency
Invest in the critical role of consumer health peak bodies by doubling their core funding and providing five-year, indexed grants to ensure long-term sustainability.
Respond to the asks of the Coalition for Preventative Health Funding and fund a Secretariat component, based at CHF, to administer the group Coalition.
Fund CHF to lead the delivery of ‘Understanding Medicare - understanding your health’ community education sessions across Australia.
To learn more visit our 2025 Election Centre.
