Labor's care reforms show mixed results after four years in power
Labor delivered some wins, bulk-billing at 77.4%, childcare pay rises, but economic strain has slowed broader care reform.
When Labor took office in 2022, Anthony Albanese promised major reforms to health, aged care, childcare and disability services. Four-and-a-half years on, progress is uneven.
In aged care, roughly two-thirds of homes are now meeting new care-time targets. Bulk billing for GP visits rose to 77.4% in 2025-26, up nearly 5% on the year before.
Childcare workers received a 15% pay rise in 2024, and the government introduced a universal three-day-week guarantee for low-income families. But the NDIS scheme has faced pressure over costs and fraud, and new access reforms tightened in August remain contentious.
A sustained cost-of-living crisis and tight budget have bumped social reform lower on the government's priority list.
- 77.4% in 2025-26
- Bulk billing rate
- 15% in 2024
- Childcare pay rise
- roughly two-thirds
- Aged care homes meeting targets
- Four-and-a-half years
- Time in office
Why it mattersCare policies directly affect whether people can afford doctors, childcare, disability support and aged care, core costs of living.
AustraliaThese reforms touch millions of Australians using GPs, childcare, aged care facilities and the NDIS disability scheme.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
