Health Minister Peter Dutton says government will look at "every option" The Abbott government has reportedly abandoned a key element of its May budget, the $7 GP co-payment. THE government's strategy on its controversial $7 GP fee is in complete disarray with senior officials last night briefing journalists it was dead only to have ministers back the policy this morning. And there are strong indications patients will now face an upfront fee of $37 to see a GP with the government considering bypassing parliament to cut the Medicare rebate, in order to force the implementation of its budget measure. At least one coalition MP, Queensland Senator Ian MacDonald has threatened to cross the floor to vote against the fee in the Senate. EARLIER: Co-payment to be dropped "I've indicated to the Prime Minister and others and to the Party Room that I will be opposing it should it come forward in its present position," he told Sky News today. And the Australian Medical Association president Dr Brian Owler has described the health Minister Peter Dutton as being "petulant" for refusing to acknowledge the fee has neither the support of the parliament, the population or the medical profession. The Coalition does not have the numbers to get the $7 fee through the Senate, with Labor, the Greens, crossbenchers and at least one of its own senators against the move. AMA President, Associate Professor Brian Owler holding a press conference on the AMA's alternative model for GP co-payments at AMA house in Canberra. There has been extensive speculation this week the government would ditch the unpopular fee before Christmas as part of a strategy to clean off "barnacles" that were costing the government support in the polls. However, Health Minister Peter Dutton this morning said the Coalition was still negotiating the measure and would canvass "every option available" to make it a reality. Two days after ruling out bypassing the parliament to implement the measure Health Minister Peter Dutton said today he is looking at all options to impose a price on GP visits. Mr Dutton has sought legal advice and says he can use regulation to bypass the parliament and cut the Medicare rebate by $5. This would slash the income of bulk billing doctors and could force them to introduce a fee that would have to be $37 or higher if they were to maintain their incomes. The patient would then go to Medicare to receive a rebate of $32 - leaving them $5 out of pocket. Senate Leader Eric Abetz also labelled the co-payment a "good policy," which is still being pursued. "The government's policy on the GP co-payment remains," he told ABC radio. And Treasurer Joe Hockey has contributed further to confusion, telling reporters: "Our policy stands." The Coalition does not have the numbers to get the $7 fee through the Senate, with Labor, the Greens and crossbenchers against the move. Co-payment "sends a pricing signal" ... When asked whether the government might look to bringing the policy in via regulation, bypassing the Senate, Minister Dutton said he would not "rule things in or out." "I'm saying there are options available to the Government," he told reporters at Parliament House, admitting to being "pragmatic" about the Senate. Mr Dutton continued to stress the need to make Medicare "sustainable" through a "modest" co-payment contribution. "Medicare is dead if we can't make it sustainable," he said. The Labor Party will kill Medicare by offering everything to everybody for free and the Government is determined to make Medicare sustainable and strong not just for today, these are plans which will set up Medicare for the next decade or two. AMA president Associate Professor Brian Owler says Health Minister Peter Dutton was being "petulant" in refusing the ditch the unpopular $7 GP fee. "They haven't won the argument but they are saying we're going to do this no matter what because we want to win the day," he told News Corp. "If you can't win over the parliament or the population it's time to admit there is a problem with the policy instead of being petulant," he said. The minster had failed to take the opportunity to reach a compromise with doctors over the fee and had ceased speaking to the medical profession months ago, Associate Professor Owler said. The government has only got itself to blame for this. They were never clear if it was a budget measure or about medical research," he said. The government's medical research future fund would still have a kitty of around $15 billion in other health cuts, many approved by the parliament if the $7 GP fee did not go ahead, Dr Owler said. Measure is "not dead yet" ... Catherine King, Shadow Minister for Health. Last night, Prime Minister Tony Abbott refused to be drawn on the way forward for the controversial measure. "It's an important reform, it's important to have price signals in our system," he told reporters. Labor and the Greens welcomed reports it could be dumped, but warned against describing the policy as "dead." "I think this isn't dead yet," Shadow Health Minister Catherine King told ABC radio. Senator Penny Wong said the government could make people pay more by introducing the co-payment in a "mean and tricky way." "I think Australians expect more from this government," she said. One thing remains clear, they are absolutely determined to ensure Australian families have to pay more to take their children to the doctor. The co-payment, announced as part of the May budget, is designed to fund the government's Medical Research Future Fund.