The prospects of a public holiday if the Matildas clinch the World Cup are firming,but small business has warned against declaring the “unprofitable” idea.
The prime minister is confident of securing pledges from state premiers to tackle what he sees as the key obstacles to new housing projects.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is seeking the deal at a national cabinet meeting in Brisbane next week while also negotiating new commitments on planning laws to add 1 million homes across the country.
State and federal leaders will discuss measures to revive primary care and relieve pressures on state hospital emergency departments.
The federal government’s Strengthening Medicare Taskforce report outlines ambitious remedies for the healthcare system but offers no immediate fix.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk took a proposal to strengthen gun laws to national cabinet,where ASIO gave a secret briefing on the threat posed by sovereign citizens.
Doctors have been calling on the federal government for years to increase the Medicare rebate for GP visits,which has barely risen in a decade.
The Victorian premier said Friday’s meeting of national cabinet was the moment for action on healthcare reform.
The reform plan calls for higher Medicare rebates,more GP clinics,and pharmacies to be allowed to prescribe some medicines.
Butler said the average gap fee for a standard GP consult is now more than the Medicare rebate itself.
Premier Dominic Perrottet says the coal price cap will cost NSW hundreds of millions of dollars,but he will put household budgets ahead of the state budget.