1 July 2016 The Turnbull Governments attack on Medicare is already hitting Newcastle families, with a number of residents reporting that from 1 July their GP will no longer offer bulk-billing.This is more proof that Mr Turnbulls harmful Medicare policies will drive up the cost of seeing a doctor for thousands of Novocastrians. The Australian Medical Association has estimated that many practices will need to charge patients $25 more because of Mr Turnbulls Medicare policies. A number of Newcastle residents have contacted my office this week, reporting that from 1 July, their local GP will no longer be able to offer bulk-billing, said Member for Newcastle, Sharon Claydon. The Australian Medical Association warned that bulk-billing rates would plunge because of Malcolm Turnbulls Medicare freeze and its disturbing to see it already happening here in Newcastle. We cannot afford to create barriers for anyone to see their GP. Delaying primary care will cause people to get sicker, putting more pressure on our already stretched local hospitals, who themselves are reeling from massive Liberal Government funding cuts. Labor has made a clear choice we will properly fund Medicare rather than give big businesses a $50 billion tax cut. We will end the Medicare freeze from 1 January 2017, making sure that it is your Medicare card and not your credit card that determines the access you have to quality health care in Australia, Ms Claydon said.