Free abortion pledge if Labor re-elected in Victoria next month

The state would provide free abortion care to Victorian women if Premier Ben Carroll is re-elected, with a politically charged plan to provide better care for women in regional and rural communities.

Abortion is legal in Victoria up to 24 weeks, but debate about its future has emerged as an issue for some voters this election, with One Nation Victorian leader Warren Pickering in 2022 saying the party wanted to reduce the gestation period for an abortion to 12 weeks.

While Medicare covers some abortion procedure costs, women often pay hundreds of dollars in blood tests, scans and other screening, plus medication.

For women in country Victoria, there can also be travel costs.

Labor estimates its policy will save women at least $700.

Health Minister Ingrid Stitt said more than two-thirds of Victorians accessing abortion paid out-of-pocket costs in the private system.

Labor is also promising to extend the window for a medical abortion to 10 weeks' gestation, up from nine, to allow greater access for women in regional Victoria who face longer wait times to be seen by specialists.

The government will also ask Safer Care Victoria to lead a clinical review into extending access to a medical abortion up to 12 weeks' gestation.

The state has identified "abortion deserts" in rural Victoria where there are no services easily accessible — 83 per cent of Victorian GPs do not provide abortion care.

Advocates say that in some small communities women do not seek help due to privacy concerns, as family or friends may work in local health care.

Under Labor's election plan, participating private providers will be paid to deliver medical and surgical abortion care when gestation is under 16 weeks.

It is estimated the policy would cost $30 million over four years.

Ms Stitt said by reducing costs, Victoria would improve access and ensure a woman's personal choice was free of financial pressure.

The state will also allow women needing to travel long distances for an abortion access to the Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme, to cover care delivered by rural generalists who specialise in anaesthesia and obstetrics.

Advocates say cost is one of the biggest barriers for women trying to access an abortion.

"Every week, women ring us and ask if they can book in after their next pay," MSI Australia chief executive Adurty Rao said.

"While they wait, the weeks go by, and care that could have been simple gets harder."

She also said for women experiencing family violence, a delay can put them at risk.

The government said long wait times often mean women miss the nine-week window for medical abortion, leaving surgery as the only alternative.

A report released in October 2024 by Women's Health Victoria revealed stark inequities in abortion access across the state.

The Realising Access report found women living in regional Victoria were almost twice as likely to seek abortions after 12 weeks' gestation than those living in metropolitan areas.

Late last month, Ms Stitt announced the rollout of new portable ultrasound machines at 20 sexual and reproductive health hubs across the state.

The machines are aimed at giving more regional women access to scans to confirm early pregnancy — and put them within the nine-week window for medical abortion if they choose that option. 

According to free phone line and online service 1800 My Options, the cost of an abortion currently depends on a variety of factors, including the type of abortion and whether a patient has a Medicare or Health Care Card, or private insurance.

It also depends on the stage of pregnancy, and whether a patient sees a private provider such as a GP, private clinic or specialist. 

A Medicare holder who attends a private clinic will likely pay from $900 for a surgical abortion, or between $100 and $600 for a medication abortion.

The 1800 My Options website says some community health services and GP clinics have lower fees, or offer bulk billing.

Medicare holders might also be able to have an abortion at no cost in a public hospital, but not every hospital provides abortion services, and some only accept patients under specific circumstances.

As part of the expanded access, the state will also train more nurses in women's health to provide care in regional Victoria.

"Only Labor will protect a woman's right to choose,'' Ms Stitt said.

Opposition Leader Jess Wilson has promised no changes to Victoria's abortion laws if she is elected.

Polls show a hung parliament is a real possibility at this year's election and Labor is working hard to tie Ms Wilson's Coalition to One Nation.