Health Insurance Act 1973

The Health Insurance Act of 1973 (Cth) was an Act of the Parliament of Australia, passed by the Labor Whitlam government, which introduced the Commonwealth of Australia's first universal healthcare scheme: Medibank. It was later amended under the Fraser government, whereinMedibank Private was established and the public healthcare scheme was progressively wound back. The Hawke government re-established the scheme under the name Medicare.

Health Insurance Act 1973
Parliament of Australia
Long title An Act providing for Payments by way of Medical Benefits and Payments for Hospital Services and for other purposes
Citation	No. 42 of 1974 No. 42, 1974 as amended
Territorial extent	States and territories of Australia
Royal assent	12 April 1974
Commenced	12 April 1974
Status: Amended