The Liberal National Party candidate for Kevin Rudd's old seat of Griffith has backed imposing a fee on patients visiting their doctors provided it does not affect care for the country's most vulnerable.
Ophthalmologist Bill Glasson, who lost to the former prime minister by just over 5,000 votes after preferences were allocated in last year's federal election, is recontesting the seat following Mr Rudd's resignation from Parliament.
Dr Glasson has told ABC News Online he supports a recent proposal to charge patients $6 to visit their general practitioner.
He says patients paid for health services through their left pocket via their taxes and their right via service charges, and a sustainable health system needed to focus on getting the balance right.
'Gang leader' shot on yachtIt is understood a man who police believe was shot on a yacht in Sydney is a leader of the Brothers 4 Life gang.
Alcohol crackdown rejectedPub lockouts wouldn't have prevented an attack that has left a teen fighting for his life, the NSW Premier says.
Tourists brave outback heatNear-record temperatures drive locals indoors as tourists continue their tour of the outback.
Housing boom rolls onHome prices continued their strong gains in December, leading to the biggest calendar year rise in four years.
Pension after salt overloadA Queensland widow is granted an Army pension over her late husband's love of salt.
Three debutants for England?Alastair Cook says England could feature three debutants in the fifth and final Ashes Test at the SCG.
Track the heatwave rolling over inland Australia with our interactive animation, updated hourly.
Reporter Philippa McDonald describes how she helped rescue three men off a crowded beach.
The Palestinian ambassador in Prague dies after a safe he was trying to open blows up in his face.
Glen Beutel is one of the last people living next to an open cut coal mine in the "ghost town" of Acland.
Dozens of people queue outside shops as legal marijuana goes on sale in the US state of Colorado.
James Avery, who played Will Smith's uncle in hit sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, dies aged 68.
Jim Maxwell previews the last of 10 Ashes Tests in 2013/14 and sees more pain ahead for England.
Gay Russians fuse art and activism to push back against the country's discrimatory laws.
Housing boom rolls onHome prices continued their strong gains in December, leading to the biggest calendar year rise in four years.
Manufacturing stuck in reverseThe Australian manufacturing sector has reverted to contraction to end 2013, after a couple months of gains.
Positive startThe Australian share market has made a positive start to the new year, rising around half a per cent in morning trade.
Myer fixes websiteThe Myer website is back up after being down for more than a week since it crashed on Christmas Day.
Gas deal falls throughJapanese investors have abandoned a deal to buy more than a million tonnes of gas each year from Woodside.
The threat of terrorism is very real, but the Sochi Games should be safe, writes Neil Fergus.
This is a cynical ploy by the Coalition to get temporary protection visas reintroduced, writes Siobhan Keating.
We can thank the ACCC for putting an end to large fuel discounts in 2014, writes Stephen Dawson.
There is no reason to celebrate false hope and the passing of time, writes Lauren Rosewarne.
It's hard to find a resolution that is at the same time original, aspirational, and forgettable, writes Ben Pobjie.
Don't just leave it to politicians to protect the environment and improve society, writes Peter Burdon.
The High Court is slowly recognising the constitution's implicit support for individual liberty, writes Chris Berg.
Making patients pay out-of-pocket for visits to the doctor is cruel and discriminatory, writes Tim Woodruff.
Australians respond generously to Senator's call for toys for children detained on Nauru
A Chinese aircraft carrier has completed tests during a training mission in the South China Sea.
An expert says the use of lead batteries in the Cook Islands solar project could be harmful.
Rape allegation by female asylum seeker raise security concerns
Taiwanese authorities monitor hundreds of people who may have had contact with a mainland Chinese tourist infected with the H7N9 strain of bird flu.
Ryan Harris and Shane Watson both bowled in the SCG nets and are expected to play the fifth Test.
Alastair Cook concedes England could feature three debutants in the fifth and final Ashes Test at the SCG.
Maria Sharapova has advanced to the semi-finals of the Brisbane International after a three-sets win over Kaia Kanepi.
Central Coast Mariners star Marcos Flores has suffered a knee injury which could end his A-League season.
Socceroos captain Lucas Neill is training with Blackburn Rovers as he continues to search for a new club.
Former F1 champion Michael Schumacher is stable after a third night in a French hospital, his agent says.
VideoA New Zealand farmer and a cheese maker are aiming to produce the world's first deer cheese.
VideoFootage released by firefighters shows the fire front close to an evacuated Stradbroke Island campground.
VideoThe US state of Colorado has become the first to legalise sales of marijuana for non-medical use.
VideoMeryl Streep has another solid shot at an Academy Award with the ensemble production August: Osage County.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott wishes Australia a happy new year for 2014.
VideoA fleet of donkey carts are collecting garbage in Gaza as a shortage of fuel grounds the fleet of trucks.
ABC News looks back at the year's defining moments from around Australia and the world.
VideoThe world's most endangered species of crocodile is benefitting from a breeding program at Melbourne Zoo.
Insects causing allergyWhen it comes to deadly Australian animals, you probably don't think of ants, bees or ticks.
Summer exercise guideLaunching a new exercise regime? Swimming's a great way to get fit and have fun.
Fasting frenzyDoes fasting two days a week really mean you can eat whatever you want, lose weight and live longer?
From how much vegetarians weigh to whether it's cheaper for pollies to fly VIP, look back at the facts of 2013.
The WA Government says its new shark control measures do not amount to a cull, but Fact Check finds they do.
Did you know more people die each year from sinkholes, tornados and drownings than shark attacks?
The Coalition says Labor's $300 million fund for childcare workers' wages was only ever about the union.
Heat stress cattleAs hot weather continues in many parts of the country, the Australian Veterinary Association is warning producers to watch out for heat stress in cattle (audio)
The heat takes its tollCentral Australian cattle producers lose stock in near-record temperatures. (audio)
Feral cat exclusion fenceTop Iron invest $1.4 million with the Australian Wildlife Conservancy to build a cat-proof fence (audio)
View some of the stunning images captured by ABC photographers throughout the year.
Were you stumped by our cryptic crossword? We've added a shortcut that can help you solve it in seconds.
Dozens of intimate portraits of a young Elvis Presley are on display at the National Portrait Gallery.
Dropped catches cost England dearly in the Boxing Day Test. How many Ashes catches can you take?
The overuse of certain phrases makes them repugnant, says author Don Watson.
Get the lowdown on staying safe in the sun, cures for jellyfish stings and more.
The world's most endangered species of crocodile is benefitting from a breeding program at Melbourne Zoo.
Enter our competition to capture the essence of 'summer heat' where you live.
