Media conjuring has pitted a population – the majority of whom are struggling to keep up with the rising cost of living – against its once most trusted ally.

These unsubstantiated seeds of doubt have been placed despite GPs waiting patiently for years for Medicare rebates to reflect their own rising costs.

But after a decade of dawdling, in my locality on the Central Coast, NSW, the wait has clearly proven futile.

A decade on, and bulk-billing a child or concession card holder where I am leaves a vocationally registered GP less than one dollar better off (95 cents to be exact).