
Public hospitals will have to consistently offer abortion services as part of commonwealth funding agreements under a federal Labor government.
If it wins the upcoming election, the party would also build a new Tasmanian reproductive health hub so women don’t have to travel interstate for abortions and other medical care.
And it would look at making sure the contraceptive pill, long-acting removable contraceptives, and medical terminations are more widely available to Australian women.
Deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek said every Australian woman should be able to access health services in the place and time they need them.
At the moment, there is a patchwork of service provision, with some women turned away from public hospitals when they need to end a pregnancy and then not being able to access or afford to go to a private clinic, or having to travel hundreds of kilometres for care.
“Choosing to terminate a pregnancy is difficult enough,” Ms Plibersek said on Wednesday.
“Forcing a woman to travel long distances or interstate to access surgical services can dramatically increase the emotional and financial burden.
“We wouldn’t accept someone having to travel that far for a hip replacement or a broken bone. Women deserve better.”
Small hospitals wouldn’t have to offer surgical abortions if it was beyond their capacity, but the Commonwealth would use its funding deals with states to make it clear it expects the service to be widely provided.
Labor would also establish an online community to support doctors providing medical terminations using RU486, and review the Medicare rebate associated with this service.