Prime Minister Tony Abbott has dismissed claims of a split in cabinet over policy, saying “vigorous discussions” should be expected.

There have been reports of a rift between Mr Abbott and Treasurer Joe Hockey over now-shelved plans to cut the Medicare rebate for short visits to the GP.

Mr Hockey described it as “gossip”, while Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said it was “scuttlebutt”.

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Speaking for the first time about the reports, Mr Abbott said the Medicare decision was unanimous in cabinet.

“As you’d expect there are lots of vigorous discussions inside the cabinet, inside the national security committee, inside the expenditure review committee,” he told reporters in Sydney on Tuesday.

“All decisions are unanimous and this was a unanimous decision.”

The prime minister said the government stood by its principle of protecting bulk-billing for the vulnerable by putting in place price signals to keep rising Medicare costs under control.

He also pointed the finger at the Labor opposition, saying it wasn’t serious about economic reform and had a secret plan for tax increases.

Shadow treasurer Chris Bowen has told The Australian newspaper Labor will release a detailed economic policy before the 2016 federal election.

“Revenue and spending measures need to be on the table. We think the best way to return to surplus is economic growth. But I also say that’s not enough – there are difficult decisions necessary,” Mr Bowen said.

Mr Abbott said the government had acknowledged the need to review some of its policies.

“If you propose something, if you find that it’s causing a problem, you take it off the table, you consult, you fix it and that’s exactly what we’ll be doing,” he said.

The next priority for the government, after the Medicare talks with doctors and other groups, will be to get its changes to universities through the Senate.

“It’s very important for our future as a creative, dynamic society and economy and that’s why we are absolutely persisting with these important reforms,” Mr Abbott said.

– AAP