Overview

• Peter Dutton plans to cut $24 billion from public service spending over four years to fund a $9 billion Medicare boost, matching Labor's policy.
• The proposed reductions would target the 36,000 public service jobs added under Labor, though specific departments and roles to be cut have not been detailed.
• Dutton has pledged to protect frontline services but has faced criticism for lacking clarity on how the cuts would be implemented without affecting essential functions.
• Labor defends its public service growth as necessary for delivering key services, including healthcare, veterans’ support, and fraud detection in the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
• Healthcare experts have welcomed the increased Medicare funding but warn that the success of bulk-billing incentives depends on whether rebates are sufficient to cover GP costs.