ACTU President Sharan Burrow said:

"Instead of committing to restore bulk-billing for all GP visits, the Independent Senators have joined with Health Minister Tony Abbott in setting up a blatantly unfair two-tiered health system."

"Single working people earning as little as $340 a week are not eligible for a concession card and will not receive a bulk-billing subsidy under this deal."

"This means that low income working people who don't have children will be lumped together with millionaires and have to pay an extra $700 a year before they qualify for the safety net."

"The Independent Senators are now as guilty as the Howard Government in ripping the heart out of Medicare - the universality of bulk-billing."

"The new deal is clearly discriminatory and unfair."

"It provides one set of subsidies for children and concession card holders who live in mainland cities and another for those living in regional areas and Tasmania."

"There is also a different safety net for concession card holders and low and middle income families than for single working people, regardless of their income."

"Absurdly, while there are incentives for GPs to bulk-bill children these are not available for parents."

"Working Australians pay for health care through their taxes and the Medicare Levy. It is wrong that they have to pay again at the medical clinic."

"The Howard Government is turning Australia's world-class public health system into a US-style two-tiered system where only the rich can afford good quality health care."

"The cost of health care is already a headache for many low and middle income Australians and this deal will make it a migraine."