THE HON CATHERINE KING MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND MEDICARE
MEMBER FOR BALLARAT
THE HON JULIE COLLINS MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR AGEING AND MENTAL HEALTH
MEMBER FOR FRANKLIN
FEDERAL LABOR RENEWS CALL FOR IMPROVED ABORTION ACCESS IN TASMANIA
It is simply not good enough that Tasmanian women are still being forced to travel interstate to access surgical abortions.
Recent media reporting has highlighted the unacceptable emotional and financial burden that Tasmanian women face when travelling interstate to access surgical abortions.
The Hodgman Government’s fix for surgical abortion access – which doesn’t even start until October – is not good enough.
Federal Labor stands by our commitment of $1 million to build a Reproductive Health Hub in Tasmania.
The Hub would provide surgical terminations as part of the public hospital system, and federal Labor would contribute to its ongoing costs under the usual Commonwealth-state arrangements.
The Hodgman Government’s ongoing failure to provide terminations in public hospitals proves the Tasmanian Liberals are only driven by conservative ideology, not the health care needs of women.
The Turnbull Government’s hands-off approach to this issue illustrates how little it cares about the concerns of Tasmanian women.
All Australian women should be able to access safe and affordable abortion services if they choose to do so.
The Hodgman and Turnbull Governments’ failure to properly fix this issue is not good enough.
TUESDAY, 31 JULY 2018