This bill became law on Sep 4th, 2025.
Health, care & disability
The bill repeals the Health Insurance (Pathology) (Fees) Act 1991The 1991 law repealed by this bill. It set application fees for some pathology approvals under the Medicare pathology framework., which set fees for several pathology approval applications.
The government introduced the bill because pathology approval fees set under the 1991 fees Act had become out of step with Commonwealth charging policy. A 2022 health portfolio review found the fees had not been reviewed since they began and were higher than the cost of processing the applications, so the bill removes the charges while keeping the Medicare approval, accreditation and quality-assurance rules.
This is a narrow Medicare administration bill shaped by a charging review, not a rewrite of pathology regulation. The story is that fees created in 1991 stayed in place for decades, were later found to exceed processing costs, and were then repealed while the accreditation system for Medicare pathology services stayed in place.
Debate showed broad support for repealing the pathology application fees. The main criticisms were that the bill was too narrow to fix wider pathology rebate and bulk-billingA billing arrangement where the provider accepts the Medicare benefit as full payment, so the patient does not pay an extra charge for that service. pressures, and that it did not answer broader disputes about GP access and out-of-pocket Medicare costs.
Ged Kearney introduced this bill. It passed on the voices.
Did it become law?
Yes
Became law 04 Sept 2025
Final passage
Passed without a counted vote
Members called out ‘aye’ or ‘no’ — no individual votes were recorded.
Passage speed
42 days
From introduction to the latest recorded parliamentary step
Meaning
The bill repeals the Health Insurance (Pathology) (Fees) Act 1991The 1991 law repealed by this bill. It set application fees for some pathology approvals under the Medicare pathology framework., which set fees for several pathology approval applications.
Pathologists, pathology authorities and pathology laboratories no longer have to pay the old application charges to become approved for Medicare-eligible pathology services.
The bill keeps the approval, accreditation and quality-assurance requirements that decide whether pathology services can attract Medicare benefitsCommonwealth payments that subsidise eligible health services, including pathology services that meet statutory requirements..
The change responds to a 2022 health portfolio review that found the fees had not changed since 1991 and exceeded the administrative cost of processing the applications.
Fees already paid must be refunded where the relevant approval or undertaking comes into force on or after 1 July 2025.
This Bill is for an Act to repeal the Health Insurance (Pathology) (Fees) Act 1991, and for related purposes.Health Insurance (Pathology) (Fees) (Repeal) Bill 2025 explanatory memorandum
remove application charges imposed on the pathology sector for three categories of applications for the approval of an approved pathology practitioner, approved pathology authority and accredited pathology laboratory.Health Insurance (Pathology) (Fees) (Repeal) Bill 2025 explanatory memorandum
The Bill resolves the misalignment with the Charging Framework while retaining the existing legislative requirement for the approval of these application categories by the Minister.Health Insurance (Pathology) (Fees) (Repeal) Bill 2025 explanatory memorandum
The current pathology charging arrangements were reviewed as part of the 2022 Health Portfolio Charging Review. It was identified that the fees set against each of these application categories have not been reviewed or changed since the Health Insurance (Pathology) (Fees) Act 1991 came into force. Further, when investigated, the fees were found to exceed the administrative cost of processing these application categories.Health Insurance (Pathology) (Fees) (Repeal) Bill 2025 explanatory memorandum
The Commonwealth must refund to a person an amount equal to the amount of a fee paid by the person under the Health Insurance (Pathology) (Fees) Act 1991 before the commencement of this item in respect of: (a) an acceptance of an undertaking covered by paragraph 21(a) or (b) of this Schedule; or (b) an approval of premises where the application for the approval of the premises is covered by paragraph 21(c) of this Schedule.Health Insurance (Pathology) (Fees) (Repeal) Bill 2025 introduced text
Context
This is a narrow Medicare administration bill shaped by a charging review, not a rewrite of pathology regulation. The story is that fees created in 1991 stayed in place for decades, were later found to exceed processing costs, and were then repealed while the accreditation system for Medicare pathology services stayed in place.
Pathology providers pay approval fees under 1991 law
The pathology fees Act set the charges that pathology practitioners, authorities and laboratories had to pay as part of the approval process for Medicare-eligible services.
Minister's second reading speech ↗Review finds pathology fees exceed processing costs
The health portfolio charging review found the pathology application fees had not been changed since the 1991 Act began and exceeded the administrative cost of processing the applications.
Explanatory memorandum ↗Previous Parliament leaves repeal unfinished
Debate in 2025 recorded that an earlier version of the legislation had been presented to the previous Parliament but did not pass before the new Parliament.
House of Representatives Hansard ↗Government reintroduces pathology fee repeal
The bill was introduced in the House to remove pathology application fees, provide refunds for some fees connected with approvals from 1 July 2025, and preserve accreditation requirements.
APH bill page ↗Pathology application fees are removed
Royal Assent turned the bill into an Act. The whole Act commenced the following day, removing the fee requirements from the pathology approval framework.
APH bill page ↗Legislative route
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step. For this bill, the Federation Chamber reported back later the same day and the House then completed its remaining formal steps that day.
Referred to Federation Chamber
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step. The official House record shows the referral out and return both happened on the same day, before the House moved to its final formal votes.
Reported from Federation Chamber
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Second reading agreed to
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.
Finally passed both Houses
The Governor-General gave Royal Assent, turning the bill into an Act.
Key criticism
Debate showed broad support for repealing the pathology application fees. The main criticisms were that the bill was too narrow to fix wider pathology rebate and bulk-billingA billing arrangement where the provider accepts the Medicare benefit as full payment, so the patient does not pay an extra charge for that service. pressures, and that it did not answer broader disputes about GP access and out-of-pocket Medicare costs.
No substantive speaker argued for keeping the pathology application fees; the criticism was about what the bill did not fix.
Pathology rebates still under pressure
Greens speakers supported removing the application fees but argued that pathology bulk-billingA billing arrangement where the provider accepts the Medicare benefit as full payment, so the patient does not pay an extra charge for that service. remained at risk because many pathology Medicare rebates had not kept up with provider costs.
Broader Medicare access concerns
Coalition speakers supported the bill but used the debate to argue that GP bulk-billingA billing arrangement where the provider accepts the Medicare benefit as full payment, so the patient does not pay an extra charge for that service. had fallen and more patients were facing out-of-pocket costs, so the fee repeal did not resolve wider Medicare affordability concerns.
Further sources
Votes
The bill passed both chambers on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage.
House agreed to the bill's third reading on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage in that chamber.
Passed on the voices
In a voice vote, members call out Aye or No and the presiding officer judges which side has it. Individual names are only recorded if a formal division is called.
Senate agreed to the bill's third reading on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage in that chamber.
Passed on the voices
In a voice vote, members call out Aye or No and the presiding officer judges which side has it. Individual names are only recorded if a formal division is called.
Parliamentary debate
Start here — lead voices
Ged Kearney introduced the earlier version of the bill, saying it would remove pathology approval fees from 1 July 2025 while keeping accreditation obligations unchanged.
Read in Hansard ↗Tim Wilson supports the bill because pathology access is important, but argues the government is failing on bulk-billingA billing arrangement where the provider accepts the Medicare benefit as full payment, so the patient does not pay an extra charge for that service. and health access, especially outside well-serviced urban areas.
Read in Hansard ↗Murray Watt's incorporated speech supports the earlier pathology fees repeal, saying it would remove the three application fees because they no longer matched government charging policy.
Read in Hansard ↗Tim Ayres' incorporated speech supports the bill, explaining that it removes pathology approval fees from 1 July 2025, allows refunds for eligible fees, and leaves accreditation obligations unchanged.
Read in Hansard ↗All speeches by bloc
10 speakers · 10 support
“Removing the fees applied to the three categories of applications through the repeal of the Pathology Fees Act will resolve this misalignment with Government Charging Policy. It will provide fee relief in addition to reducing the administrative burden for the pathology sector.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The consequential amendments included in this Bill remove all references to the payment of fees for these application types from 1 July 2025. In line with this intended commencement date, provisions have been included to allow the refund of fees collected between 1 July 2025 (inclusive) and the commencement date of this bill where the applicant's approval has come into force on or after 1 July 2025.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“I would like to go back to the legislation before us at the moment, the Health Insurance (Pathology) (Fees) (Repeal) Bill 2025. I thank the Minister for Health and Ageing and the Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care for the work they've done on this legislation, which was presented to the previous parliament but was not able to go through the parliament. It has come up again now and will be passed in the near future. This legislation demonstrates that the government is working at all levels of the healthcare sector to provide fee relief not just to patients but to businesses involved in providing health care. In addition to reducing the administrative burden on the pathology sector, this bill will save costs and improve the efficiency of our pathology sector. This follows on from the findings of the 2022 Health Portfolio Charging Review, which identified that fees set against application categories had not been reviewed or changed since the pathology fees act came into force almost 40 years ago. These fees were arbitrarily set between $500 and $2,500 in 1991.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“It's not just about Medicare. The whole package of health care that this Albanese Labor government has brought forward in both the 47th parliament and now the 48th parliament is one for the history books. It is fantastic. We are looking at making sure that pathology and imaging services are more widely available for the Australian people. But let's talk about urgent care. If you're too sick for the GP but not sick enough for the ED, now you've finally got somewhere to go, and it's bulk-billed. I can only imagine what those opposite would do if they decided to set up some sort of network like that. You would be paying for it and you would be paying deep into your pockets for a privatised health system, and that is just not good enough.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The 2022 Health Portfolio Charging Review identified that the fees set against each of these application categories have not been reviewed or changed since the pathology fees act came into force a very long time ago. This bill repeals the pathology fees act. It will resolve this misalignment and provide fee relief, in addition to reducing the administrative burden for the pathology sector. The consequential amendments included in this bill remove all references to the payment of fees for these application categories from 1 July 2025. Accreditation obligations associated with these applications will remain unchanged, thus maintaining the quality and safety of pathology services provided under Medicare.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“I rise to speak in strong support of the Health Insurance (Pathology) (Fees) (Repeal) Bill 2025. This is not just a technical adjustment to the Medicare schedule. This is about strengthening one of the cornerstones of our health system and making sure that it continues to deliver affordable and high quality care for Australians today but also for generations to come.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The bill will also make consequential amendments to the Health Insurance Act 1973, which prescribes the payment for fees for acceptance and approval of the applications. The bill provides fee relief and reduces the administrative burden on the pathology sector, as well as retaining the requirements for pathology service providers to meet accreditation requirements. These accreditation obligations will remain unchanged to ensure the quality and safety of pathology services provided under Medicare is maintained.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The consequential amendments included in this bill remove all references to the payment of fees for these application types from 1 July 2025. In line with this intended commencement date, provisions have been included to allow the refund of fees collected between 1 July 2025 (inclusive) and the commencement date of this bill where the applicant's approval has come into force on or after 1 July 2025.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The Health Insurance (Pathology) (Fees) Act 1991 specifies the fees which must be paid for the acceptance and approval of approved practitioner, approved authority and accredited laboratory applications. The approval of these applications allows the providers of pathology services to be identified in the Services Australia billing system as approved providers of Medicare-eligible services. The current pathology charging arrangements were reviewed as part of the 2022 Health portfolio charging review, which identified that these arrangements do not align with the Australian government's charging framework. Removing the fees applied to the three categories of applications through the repeal of the pathology fees act will resolve this misalignment with the charging framework. It will also provide the pathology sector with fee relief and a reduced administrative burden; however, it will preserve the high level of confidence in the accuracy of Medicare-eligible pathology services by retaining administrative requirements, including accreditation obligations.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The consequential amendments included in this bill remove all references to the payment of fees for these application types from 1 July 2025. However, to preserve the high level of confidence in the accuracy of pathology testing in Australia provided under Medicare, the administrative requirements, including accreditation obligations, will remain unchanged.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
7 speakers · 7 support
“It's wonderful to be here supporting legislation that's looking specifically at the challenges of the pathology sector, because it's so important for making sure that Australians get access to the health services they need and, of course, for making sure Australians are in a position to get the tests at the time and stages of their lives when they need them.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“This particular bill, the Health Insurance (Pathology) (Fees) (Repeal) Bill 2025, removes the fees imposed on the pathology sector for certain categories of pathology applications. It responds to the findings of the 2022 Health Portfolio Charging Review by doing a couple of things—firstly, addressing the misalignment of fees charged under the pathology fees act with the charging framework and, secondly, providing fee relief and reducing the administrative burden on the pathology sector. You're not going to get the coalition complaining about that. The opposition leader has said we will certainly divide on bills where we must, but, when there's good policy put forward, we'll agree with it.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The Health Insurance (Pathology) (Fees) (Repeal) Bill 2025 removes the fees imposed on the pathology sector for certain categories of pathology applications. The coalition supports this bill. It is a response to the findings of the 2022 health portfolio charging review, addressing the misalignment of fees charged under the Health Insurance (Pathology) (Fees) Act with the charging framework, as well as providing fee relief and reducing administrative burden on the pathology sector. The bill will also maintain a high level of confidence in the accuracy of Medicare eligible pathology services by continuing to require service providers to meet requisite accreditation and quality assurance standards.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“I would like to add a few words to the debate on the Health Insurance (Pathology) (Fees) (Repeal) Bill 2025. While the coalition does support the passing of this legislation and will support the bill passing through the Senate, I think it is worth putting on the record, from my perspective in Tasmania, the dishonesty that the government has managed the health portfolio with over the last three and a bit years. In fact, their approach to health in particular has followed the same path for a considerable period of time. We've had 'Mediscare' campaign after 'Mediscare' campaign perpetrated by the Labor party going back as far as 2016. The real problem is that they're prepared to run a scare campaign but they're not prepared to base it on fact.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“I rise to speak in support of the Health Insurance (Pathology) (Fees) (Repeal) Bill 2025. I do so because the bill takes steps to improve our health system by removing fees imposed on the pathology sector for certain categories of applications. It directly responds to the findings of the 2022 health portfolio charging review, which made it clear that current fees were misaligned with the broader Commonwealth charging framework. This reform is both sensible and necessary. It provides meaningful relief for the pathology sector, reduces red tape and supports the efficient delivery of essential health services. By repealing these fees it helps ensure that laboratories can focus more on delivering high-quality accurate testing services without being bogged down by unnecessary administrative burdens. Let me be very clear: the coalition support this bill because we understand the crucial role pathology plays in our health system. Whether it be diagnosing cancers, managing chronic illness or detecting infections, accurate pathology services underpin nearly every element of modern health care. The bill will maintain stringent accreditation and quality-assurance standards to ensure continued public confidence in Medicare-eligible pathology services. Importantly, this bill has the backing of key stakeholders in the pathology sector, including the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia, Australian Pathology and Public Pathology Australia.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“I rise today to speak in support of the Health Insurance (Pathology) (Fees) (Repeal) Bill 2025. This bill takes steps to improve our health system by removing fees imposed on the pathology sector for certain categories of applications. It directly responds to the findings of the 2022 Health portfolio charging review, which made it clear that the current fees were misaligned with the broader Commonwealth charging framework. This reform is both sensible and necessary. It provides meaningful relief to the pathology sector, reduces red tape and supports the efficient delivery of essential health services. By repealing these fees, it helps to ensure that laboratories can focus more on delivering high-quality accurate testing services without being bogged down by unnecessary administrative burdens.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The Health Insurance (Pathology) (Fees) (Repeal) Bill 2024 removes the fees imposed on the pathology sector for pathology applications. The bill responds to the findings of the 2022 health portfolio charging review by addressing the misalignment of fees charged under the Health Insurance (Pathology) (Fees) Act 1991 with the charging framework and providing fee relief and reducing administrative burden on the pathology sector. The bill will maintain a high level of confidence in the accuracy of Medicare-eligible pathology services by continuing to require service providers to meet requisite accreditation and quality-assurance standards. Importantly, the bill has the support of Australia's pathology sector, having been welcomed by stakeholders such as the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia, Australian Pathology and Public Pathology Australia. As such, the coalition will support this bill. We understand the importance of providing fee relief to the pathology sector and providing assistance to health providers, who are also dealing with Labor's cost-of-living crisis.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
2 speakers · 2 support
“I'm pleased to speak to the Health Insurance (Pathology) (Fees) (Repeal) Bill 2025. I lead my contribution by sharing that the Greens will be supporting this bill, as this bill will relieve some of the pressure that the pathology sector is currently experiencing. It will remove some small administrative fees—an important step, as the health portfolio charging review identified that administration fees had not been reviewed since they were initially introduced and that the fees cost more than the actual administrative cost of approving the relevant applications. However, this bill does not fully address the issues threatening bulk-billing of pathology services in Australia.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The same will happen with pathology if the government continues to merely tinker around the edges of healthcare reform. The Labor government has promised that some pathology items will be indexed, but that doesn't start for another year—a year too late. And the majority of the tests, including some of the most commonly provided ones, won't even be included. This bill goes a small way to relieving administration costs. Really, the government should do more right now, because accessible pathology tests are vital to the functioning of our healthcare system and to Australians' health. Thank you.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Record
House · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
House · Second reading moved
Second reading opened
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Referred to Federation Chamber
Referred to Federation Chamber
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Reported from Federation Chamber
Reported from Federation Chamber
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Third reading agreed to
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Senate · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Senate · Second reading moved
Second reading opened
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Senate · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Senate · Second reading agreed to
Second reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Senate · Third reading agreed to
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Parliament · Finally passed both Houses
Passed both houses
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.
Assent · Assent
Assent
The Governor-General gave Royal Assent, turning the bill into an Act.
