Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has flatly ruled out compromising with Tony Abbott on Medicare payment changes.

In his first National Press Club speech of the year, Mr Shorten declared: "There are no circumstances under which Labor will pass the GP tax."

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten at the Press Club. Photo: Andrew Meares

Mr Shorten was alluding to recent speculation that the Coalition might introduce a $6 co-payment fee for GP visits.

The Prime Minister, Mr Abbott, has denied he has any plans to do so. But the Opposition Leader went further, removing any hopes the Health Minister, Peter Dutton, might have held to pursue bipartisan reductions or changes to Medicare funding arrangements.