IntroductionAustralia has one of the most successful healthcare systems in the world. General practitioners play a central role in the thriving healthcare system and have a great impact on it as they lead the primary healthcare system, which is very important for the health of communities and maintains people's well-being. Nowadays the Tony Abbot government is proposing a controversial issue relating to the $5 copay to see a GP. The government is considering canceling bulk billing and requiring most Australians to pay a $5 copay every time they visit a GP to save money. It is an indication of the end of the Medicare bulk billing system. The ticket was first introduced by the Hawke Government in the 1990s, but was rejected when amended. This has been a prolific and controversial topic as the proposal could weaken the universality of Medicare (Maiden, S. 2013). Australian concerns about side effects of the new proposal such as costs, household budgets, politics, policy debates, appropriate use of health services and health outcomes. This essay will first address the current situation of the Australian healthcare system, the effects on the Australian nation, the function of general practice in relation to primary healthcare and an overview of the co-payment proposal. Subsequently, arguments will be discussed in economic and equitable terms, addressing the potential harmful effect, foreseen by the $5 GP ticket. Some obvious issues that may arise across the Australian nation and the healthcare system in Australia are followed to argue that the $5 copay is not the best proposition for Australian healthcare. Current situation of the Australian healthcare system and effects on the Australian nationThe Australian healthcare system is summarized...... middle of the document ......f consumer cost-sharing in medical care. National Health Strategy Briefing Paper No.5.Brook, R., Keeler, E., Lohr, k., Newhouse, J., Ware, J., Rogers, W., Davies, A., Sherbourne, C., Goldberg , G., Camp, P., Kamberg, C., Leibowitz, A., Keesey, J., Reboussin, D. (2006). The Health Insurance Experiment: A Classic RAND Study speaks to the current debate over health care reform. RAND Company. Retrieved from RAND Experiment.Russell, D.L. (2014, January 21). The family doctor's co-pay is not a way to reduce healthcare costs. Australian Medical Association. Retrieved from https://ama.com.au/ausmed/gp-co-payment-no-way-cut-health-costsSweet, M. (January 29, 2014). Further healthcare reform is needed, but GP copayments are not a useful option. Retrieved from Croakey heatlh blog: http://blogs.crikey.com.au/croakey/2014/01/29/further-health-reform-is-needed-but-gp-co-payments-are-not-a- useful-option/