Today’s International Safe Access to Abortion Day is a sobering reminder of the Liberal Government’s betrayal to Tasmanians on terminations.
Currently in Tasmania information about access to terminations is distressingly limited and confusing, while access itself is inconsistent across the state.
Shadow Health Minister, Sarah Lovell, said the dangerous ideology of the Liberals’ hard right Cabinet members was to blame.
“The Liberals have been continually deceptive about their intent to provide Tasmanians with a termination clinic – largely because of Michael Ferguson and other the Cabinet members’ personal beliefs,” Ms Lovell said.
“Tasmanians were left waiting almost two years before the government was forced to inform them that the state’s sole low-cost terminations clinic would not be replaced.
“The Liberals response to termination access is one of reprehensible negligence and puts women in an unacceptable position of having to beg for help.
“We’ve had two years of private providers propping up the governments failed system out of goodwill.
“Access should not be based on the good will of a handful of doctors and women should not have to travel to the mainland for a legal procedure that should be available in the public system, no different to any other health procedure.
“Sarah Courtney must act immediately to ensure women are not forced to leave the state or required to access financial assistance in order to afford a termination.
“Tasmanian Labor will continue to call on the government to ensure women have safe, low cost, access to terminations in Tasmanian public hospitals.
