Federal budget: No compliance crackdown, no new money… but not nothing

The government has fulfilled its promise to boost rural workforce incentives
Treasurer Jim Chalmers.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers. Photo: AAP

The health bit of last night’s federal budget unfolded as nearly everybody predicted, which you may take as a compliment or a criticism of the government, depending on your perspective. 

The first budget from Treasurer Jim Chalmers tucked away $750 million in ‘contingency’ funds for whatever shape the long-delayed GP patient enrolment scheme takes.