Health Minister Mark Butler says Australians are reaping the benefits of record investment in Medicare after revealing bulk billing rates were increasing ahead of schedule. The national rate rose to 84.1 per cent for the June 2026 quarter, a rise of almost five percentage points on the same time last year. Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Arrow“Our government is delivering more bulk billing to more Australians,” Butler said. “Across the country more and more GP practices are becoming fully bulk billing clinics meaning all patients need is their Medicare card, not their credit card. The Northern Territory is now more than 90.8 per cent bulk billed, with the ACT (59.3 per cent) the only jurisdiction tracking at less than 75 per cent.