Petition bid for abortion clinic return
THOUSANDS of people have now signed a petition calling on the State Government to bring abortion clinics back to Tasmania.
The state’s only pregnancy termination clinic closed in December due to falling demand for the procedure. The Government subsequently extended the Patient Travel Assistance Scheme to women referred by their GP to Melbourne for surgical abortions.
That news inspired Callie Roebuck, a Tasmanian living in Brisbane, to create a change.org petition calling for abortion clinics to be re-established in Tasmania.
The petition has received more than 5500 signatures, 2000 short of the 7500 target.
Ms Roebuck said she was horrified to learn Tasmanian women may need to go interstate for pregnancy terminations.
“For me it’s not about the pro-life debate or anything, it’s just about women needing the resources if they choose to have an abortion,” Ms Roebuck said.
Women’s Health Tasmania executive officer Glynis Flower said since the clinic’s closure her organisation had been able to assist all women who had asked for help.
“If women come to us we will help them to the best of our ability,” Ms Flower said.
Ms Flower said Women’s Health has been working to gain more information about services for women in Tasmania, and could help with the process of seeking travel assist- ance, in some circumstances within the state.
“We are finding more ways to assist women if they are seeking help, including access to termination in Tasmania.”
A government spokesman said surgical abortion services were provided in Tasmania, and the travel assistance scheme remained available.
Women’s Health Tasmania, Family Planning Tasmania, The Link Youth Health Service and Pulse Youth Health Service are all prescribed organisations under the Termination of Pregnancy Act and are able to provide free confidential advice, counselling and information to women about their pregnancy choices.
Details about eligibility for the travel assistance scheme can be found at http://www. dhhs.tas.gov.au/hospital/ptas