Govt switches to backdoor GP tax: Shorten

The Abbott government has abandoned its GP co-payment in favour of a back door doctor tax, the opposition says.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten says Tony Abbott has dumped his $7 GP co-payment in favour of a tax. (AAP)

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has dumped his $7 Medicare co-payment in favour of a back-door tax, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten says.

The government has ditched plans for a co-payment on all patients, replacing it with a $5 optional co-payment that will be determined by doctors.

"It is still a tax on Australians going to the doctor," Mr Shorten told reporters in Melbourne.

"It is still a GP tax, it is still a broken promise, and we know that when he gets chance he'll reintroduce it again."