An Abortion Can Cost $1,000 – Labor Will Change This
Abortion care is healthcare.
A woman’s personal choice should never be dictated by the cost of accessing an abortion.
That’s why a re-elected Carroll Labor Government will eliminate out-of-pocket costs for abortions across Victoria.
Abortions are legal but can cost more than $1000
Cost is one of the biggest barriers for women trying to access an abortion right now.
More than two thirds of Victorian women pay out of pocket costs in the private system to access an abortion.
Medical abortion (MTOP) under nine weeks involves blood tests, ultrasounds, pain and abortion medication.
Together, this can add up to almost $700 with a Medicare card.
Surgical abortions can cost more than $1,000.
By reducing costs, we improve access and ensure a woman’s personal choice is free of financial pressure.
The way it should be.
Abortion care is healthcare – we will make it free
Labor has expanded access in public hospitals, community health and primary care – and under this plan, participating private and public providers will be paid to deliver medical and surgical abortion care when gestation is under 16 weeks.
That means:
- no GP or specialist consultation fees
- no imaging or testing fees
- no medication costs at participating providers.
This change can save women more than $1,000 – removing cost as a barrier to their choice.
Delivering real financial support for regional women
Some women face round trips of almost 700 kilometres to access abortion care. This is not fair or acceptable.
It’s why Labor will expand the eligibility of the Victorian Patient Travel Assistance Scheme (VPTAS).
It will now cover care delivered by Rural Generalists who specialise in anaesthesia and obstetrics.
This includes the highly skilled GPs working at Labor’s 12 regional Sexual and Reproductive Health Hubs.
And under a re-elected Labor Government, the fuel and accommodation subsidies will also increase for VPTAS.
This is a real, practical change that will make it cheaper for women in rural areas.
Extending access to medical abortion
In regional Victoria, particularly in ‘abortion deserts’, accessing care can take longer than it should.
Many regional women face long GP wait times and imaging can be costly, time-consuming and difficult.
It means they often miss the nine-week window for medical abortion, leaving surgery as the only alternative.
Labor will standardise care across Victoria and extend the window for medical abortion to 10 weeks gestation.
This will give women extra time for less invasive care.
Safer Care Victoria will also lead a clinical review into extending access to MTOP up to 12 weeks gestation.
This timeframe is within the World Health Organisation’s guidance for safe medical abortion.
The review will cover the model of care, including where care should be delivered and who should deliver it.
It will also examine other jurisdictions with successful models of care, including the ACT, Scotland and Ireland.
Supporting our nursing and midwifery workforce
In 2023, Labor made it legal for nurse practitioners and endorsed midwives to prescribe MTOP medication.
Now, we will deliver training for nurse practitioners and endorsed midwives working in community health care who want to provide abortion care.
Training will be via placements with experienced nurse practitioners who already prescribe this medication.
Training more nurse practitioners and midwives will expand access to abortion care.
In regional Victoria – this investment will make a real difference.
Making it easier to find care
Labor will also expand its 1800 My Options service delivered by Women’s Health Victoria.
This support includes hiring additional staff and more resources to support the roll out of free abortion care.
It means more women will be able to access critical information and referrals for services.
Only Labor will protect a woman’s right to choose
A Labor Government decriminalised abortion and established safe access zones outside clinics.
And our Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health Hubs have increased access to abortions.
It all made a difference. But it’s all at risk.
Polling shows the Liberals and One Nation can only form a government together.
And One Nation wants to make abortion a criminal offence.
Jess Wilson may well say she supports abortion.
But in a Government dominated by One Nation and extreme Liberal MPs, Jess Wilson won’t call the shots.
A Liberal-One Nation Coalition will Americanise our health system – and set their sights on abortion rights.
Only Labor will protect it.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Ingrid Stitt
“Only Labor will protect a woman’s right to choose.”
“Polling shows the Liberals and One Nation can only form a government together, and One Nation wants to make abortion a criminal offence.”
“Abortion care is healthcare and Labor will make it free.”
