Abortion access on agenda for ALP

TASMANIAN women would no longer have to travel interstate or pay huge out-of-pocket fees to access surgical abortions if Federal Labor wins power at the next federal poll.

Federal Labor deputy leader Tanya Plibersek and Federal Opposition health spokeswoman Catherine King will today announce that the party would invest $1 million to ensure Tasmania’s public health system provides the services women in the state are entitled to following the closure of a private abortion clinic.

The closure of the Hobart clinic — the state’s last remaining private abortion clinic — at the start of this year has led to the State Government’s Patient Travel Assistance Scheme being extended to women referred by their GP to Melbourne for surgical abortions rather than abortions being funded through the public system.

The gynaecologist of the clinic said he was closing it because there had been falling demand for surgical terminations offered at clinics since the medication RU486 became available nationally when it was listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme in 2013.

But under Federal Labor’s plan, a reproductive health hub will be built to provide the service for those who turn to it.

Ms King said the hub would give Tasmanian women the option to visit a stand-alone public clinic if they wished.

“Abortion is legal in Tasmania — as it should be around Australia. But the closure of the state’s main private clinic has left women with few places to turn when a surgical termination is required, with the remaining private providers charging around $2500 for the procedure — unaffordable for most women,” she said.

“Medical termination [RU486] is not always suitable or preferred.”

State Labor leader Rebecca White has said her party would make abortions available through Tasmania’s public health system.

Greens leader Cassy O’Connor also said the procedure needs to be routinely funded in the public system.