Professor Owler said the Coalition Government's policy to extend the Medicare rebate freeze until 2020, if maintained, would cripple thousands of medical practices and force all Australians to pay more for their health care.
"The medical profession has been united in its strident opposition to the Government's Medicare freeze policy, and we will campaign against it until it is withdrawn," Professor Owler said.
"Labor's announcement means that there is a real difference between the major parties on health policy.
"Labor's promise to lift the Medicare rebate freeze will be welcomed by doctors – GPs and other specialists – and patients across the country.
"Patients are the big winners from this announcement, especially working families with a few kids, the elderly, the chronically ill, and the most vulnerable in the community.
"It is a significant vote of confidence in general practice, and a boost to the health system for the benefit of all Australians."
Professor Owler said that GPs have for years done their best to shelter patients from the impact of the freeze, but the Budget decision to extend the freeze until 2020 will push many medical practices over the edge.
"Many GPs are now at a tipping point. With the freeze stretching out for seven years, they have no choice but to pass on the increased costs of running their practices to patients.
"The Medicare rebate freeze is bad policy, and it should be scrapped."
Professor Owler said there has been a tremendous response to the AMA #nomedicarefreeze campaign, with hundreds of members requesting campaign materials, and GPs and specialists talking to patients in their surgeries every day about the impact that the freeze will have on health costs and the ongoing viability of practices.
"The AMA looks forward to the release of further health policies from all parties."
