The Nationals have urged the federal government not to scrap billions of dollars of funding for the inland rail project ahead of the federal budget.

Australia's treasured Medicare system is not fit-for-purpose outside major cities, with rural patients disadvantaged and "invisible", an inquiry has been told.

Australians have been urged to start conversations about end-of-life care as the nation's ageing population puts palliative care in the spotlight.

The so-called grandfather of Inland Rail says the half-built 'train to nowhere' can still be saved, pitching a private plan to finish the route.