Australia's high-quality health care system, with universal access to publicly funded and provided services augmented by a private health care system, consistently performs well in international comparisons. However, indicators of access and equity show that Australia does not do so well, coming seventh out of the 11 countries survey on equity and fourth on access. This is despite Medicare providing universal access to primary care and hospital treatment. 

CHF’s submission for the 2020 Federal Budget, released on 22 January 2020, proposes 23 recommendations for change, covering ten broad areas ranging from prevention to aged care and primary health. Consumers have voiced their concerns about uncertainty, and the cost of health care services, both of which are important components of access.