O75 Public Administration

Doctors fees revealed as bulk billing spikes

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Original article by Natasha Robinson
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 11-Feb-26

Data from the federal government shows that 3,412 medical clinics nationwide now offer full bulk-billing, an increase of nearly 1,300 since Labor’s reforms were introduced in November. The figures show that the national bulk-billing rate has increased by more than four percentage points to 81.4 per cent of GP consultations over the last three months. Health Minister Mark Butler says GPs and medical clinics are moving back to bulk billing because it works for patients and their practices. Meanwhile, the government will legislate to allow more data to be uploaded to the existing Medical Costs Finder website; this will enable consumers to compare out-of-pocket expenses for GPs, specialists and hospitals.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HEALTH, DISABILITY AND AGEING, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence drops 3.6pts to 76.9 – down over 7pts in two weeks to lowest since December 2023

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 11-Feb-26

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence fell 3.6pts to 76.9 in the week to 8 February; it is now 9.8pts lower than a year ago (86.7), and 4.1pts below the 2026 weekly average of 81.0. Analysis by State shows that the Reserve Bank’s decision to raise interest rates for the first time in more than two years hit confidence everywhere, with a uniform fall in confidence across all States this week. Now just 16% of Australians (down 2ppts) say their families are ‘better off’ financially than this time last year, while 47% (up 2ppts) say their families are ‘worse off’. Looking forward, only 22% (down 2ppts) of respondents expect their family to be ‘better off’ financially this time next year (the lowest figure for this indicator since July 1989), while 35% (down 1ppt) expect to be ‘worse off’. Only 8% (unchanged) of respondents expect ‘good times’ for the Australian economy over the next 12 months, while 38% (up 5ppts) expect ‘bad times’. Meanwhile, 20% (down 1ppt) of Australians say now is a ‘good time to buy’ major household items, while 39% (unchanged) say now is a ‘bad time to buy’.

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ROY MORGAN LIMITED, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ

Roy Morgan Business Confidence slumps 7.6pts to 97.4 in January – the lowest confidence rating since April 2025

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 11-Feb-26

In January 2026 Roy Morgan Business Confidence slumped 7.6pts to 97.4, its lowest rating since April 2025 (96.7). The result followed a spike in inflationary pressures, with the official ABS annual inflation estimates for November at 3.4% (released in early January), and now jumping to 3.8% for the 12 months to December 2025 (released in late January). Business Confidence is now 12.3pts below the long-term average of 109.7, and down 10.8pts from January 2025. Now 27.2% (down 7.9ppts) of respondents say their business is ‘better off’ financially than a year ago, while 29.7% (down 2.2ppts) say the business is ‘worse off’ (the lowest figure for this indicator since June 2021). Just 33.3% (down 13.1ppts) expect the business to be ‘better off’ financially this time next year, while 24.4% (up 5.4ppts) expect the business to be ‘worse off’. Meanwhile, 34.9% (down 5.4ppts) of respondents say the next 12 months will be a ‘good time to invest’ in growing the business, while 36.9% (up 2.8ppts) say the next 12 months will be a ‘bad time to invest’.

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ROY MORGAN LIMITED

Taylor backers plot mass resignations as Ley’s allies invoke Turnbull hardball tactics

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Original article by Paul Sakkal
The Age – Page: Online : 11-Feb-26

Opposition leader Sussan Ley is under renewed scrutiny amid growing speculation of an imminent move to oust her. Sources have indicated that Liberal MP Angus Taylor is preparing to resign from the shadow frontbench as a prelude to launching a leadership challenge. Supporters of Taylor are also believed to be planning to quit the frontbench en masse in order to put further pressure on Ley. MPs from the Liberals’ moderate and conservative factions have urged Taylor to declare his hand. Meanwhile, Ley’s supporters want her to invoke a rule that requires a majority of the partyroom to sign a petition calling for a leadership ballot. Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull used the same rule in 2018 in an attempt to ward off a challenge by Peter Dutton; Scott Morrison won the resulting ballot.

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LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

PM stares down Hard Left

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Original article by Ben Packham, James Dowling
The Australian – Page: 1 & 5 : 11-Feb-26

Israeli President Isaac Herzog has praised the federal government’s efforts to combat anti-Semitism; however, he said the test will be in these measures’ full implementation and their outcome. Herzog also stated that he is on a mission to improve Israel’s relations with the federal government after a number of disagreements, including his nation’s right to defend itself. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has urged the people involved in violent protests against Herzog on Monday night to "turn the temperature down"; he told parliament that Herzog deserves to be treated with respect during his official visit, and stated that he will not walk away from his support for Herzog’s presence in Australia.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

The Geoff Wilson model for CGT change

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Original article by Matthew Cranston
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 10-Feb-26

Wilson Asset Management’s founder Geoff Wilson supports changes to the capital gains tax discount for existing homes. He stresses that any such reforms must be revenue-neutral rather than a budget "cash grab". Wilson adds that CGT reforms must ensure that capital is moved from non-productive assets such as property to productive assets. He says one option would be to reduce the CGT discount for purchases of existing houses for investors to about 25 per cent while increasing the discount on investing in Australian businesses to 75 per cent. Wilson will appear before a Senate Inquiry into CGT in coming weeks. The CGT discount applies to any asset that has been held for at least 12 months.

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WILSON ASSET MANAGEMENT

Federal Voting Intention: ALP loses support as Reserve Bank raises interest rates – on a two-party preferred basis ALP 53.5% (down 2.5%) cf. L-NP Coalition 46.5% (up 2.5%)

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 10-Feb-26

The Roy Morgan Poll from February 2-8, 2026 shows primary support for the ALP down 2% to 28.5%, One Nation down 0.5% to 24.5%, and the L-NP Coalition up 2% to 22.5% – interviewing for the survey was completed before the Coalition re-united on Sunday afternoon. Support for the Greens was up 1% to 13.5% and support for Independents/Other Parties was down 0.5% to 11%, according to the latest Roy Morgan survey conducted with a representative Australia-wide cross-section of 1,584 electors. On a two-party preferred basis, the ALP is 53.5% (down 2.5% from a week ago) ahead of the Coalition on 46.5% (up 2.5%). When preferences from this week’s Roy Morgan survey are allocated based on how Australians voted at the 2025 Federal Election the two-party preferred result is closer than the respondent allocated preferences with the ALP on 53% (down 1.5%) leading the L-NP Coalition on 47% (up 1.5%).

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ROY MORGAN LIMITED, MORGAN POLL, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, ONE NATION PARTY

Royal commission at risk over secrecy concerns

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Original article by Ronald Mizen
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 10-Feb-26

Attorney-General Michelle Rowland told Senate estimates on Monday that $131.1 million had been allocated to the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion. It comes as Rowland has agreed to meet with Teal independent Allegra Spender to discuss Spender’s concerns about current or former intelligence agents who may want to give evidence to the commission. Spender, whose seat of Wentworth takes in Bondi Beach, the site of the December massacre that saw 15 people killed, wants stronger protections for those agents, due to concerns that whistleblowers could face jail time for appearing before the commission

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AUSTRALIA. ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S DEPT, AUSTRALIA. ROYAL COMMISSION ON ANTISEMITISM AND SOCIAL COHESION

Taylor claims to have numbers but Ley digs in

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Original article by Phillip Coorey, Ronald Mizen
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 10-Feb-26

Sources close to Opposition leader Sussan Ley contend that there is "zero chance" of her stepping aside, despite ongoing scrutiny over her future and dismal public opinion polls. Members of the Liberal Party’s moderates faction have expressed support for Ley, and dispute claims by supporters of would-be leadership contender Angus Taylor that he has sufficient numbers in the party-room to force a spill and win the resulting ballot. However, shadow attorney-general Andrew Wallace says the focus should be on rebuilding the newly-unified Coalition, arguing that the Liberals will face a backlash if the party’s first female leader is ousted.

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LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

RBA issues dire growth warning

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Original article by Lea Jurkovic
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 10-Feb-26

The Reserve Bank of Australia’s latest forecasts shows that the domestic economy is expected to grow by just 1.6 per cent in the year to June 2028. This is the central bank’s lowest medium-term growth outlook since it began releasing forecasts in 1990. Stephen Smith from Deloitte Access Economics notes that this compares with the Treasury’s growth forecast of 2.75 per cent in the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook; he adds that a GDP hit of more than one percentage point would have "fairly material implications" for budget revenue forecasts. Meanwhile, Labor used question time on Monday to refute suggestions that rising government spending contributed to last week’s interest rate increase.

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RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, DELOITTE ACCESS ECONOMICS PTY LTD