Labor pledges to make medical abortion free in Victoria

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 14 Oct, 19:32 · Archive

Victoria's Labor government has pledged to make medical abortion free if re-elected in November, costing $30 million over four years.

Victoria's Labor government has unveiled a pledge to make medical abortion free if re-elected in November. The policy is slated to cost taxpayers $30 million over four years and aims to eliminate out-of-pocket costs for women.

Under the proposal, participating private providers will be paid to deliver medical and surgical abortion care when gestation is under 16 weeks. The government says the plan will save women more than $1,000, with no general practitioner or specialist consultation fees and no medication costs at participating providers. Labor will also extend the window for medical abortion to 10 weeks gestation, with Safer Care Victoria to lead a clinical review into extending access to abortion up to 12 weeks gestation within World Health Organisation guidance.

Health Minister Ingrid Stitt said 'only Labor will protect a woman's right to choose'. The pledge is part of a suite of cost-of-living measures from a government seeking a historic fourth term. The move comes as Labor trails the coalition in the polls, with its primary vote at 25 per cent according to the latest Resolve Political Monitor conducted in October, compared to the coalition's 28 per cent.

How it is being reported

• 'Abortion care is health care': Labor unveils pitchReproductive rights have been placed on the election agenda, with a medical abortion set to be free under a re-elected state government.Perth Now · 14 Oct, 19:04
• 'Abortion care is health care': Labor unveils pitchReproductive rights have been placed on the election agenda, with a medical abortion set to be free under a re-elected state government.The West Australian · 14 Oct, 19:04

In this story: Victoria · Labor · Ingrid Stitt · Safer Care Victoria

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