Labor queries Medicare cabinet talks

Labor has queried Malcolm Turnbull's claim that cabinet did not discuss the private sector being involved in Medicare's payments system.

The opposition has received a freedom of information decision which states five documents relating to the Medicare proposal would not be released because they had been "brought into existence for the dominant purpose of briefing the minister on a submission which is proposed to be submitted to cabinet".

The prime minister and treasurer told reporters on Monday the proposal had never gone to cabinet.