‘Postcode lottery’: Women’s access to abortion in Australia under fire

The challenges women still face accessing an abortion in Australia have been laid bare on a scorecard comparing each state’s laws.

Women’s access to abortion in Australia is a “postcode lottery” that grants some free treatment and others facing out-of-pocket costs into the thousands of dollars.

In a new national report card, one of the largest not-for-profits offering the service, Marie Stopes International Australia, has compared the provision of services across the country.

While abortion has been decriminalised across Australia, cost is still proving a significant barrier, with some women paying more than $620 for an abortion despite the fact it’s on Medicare.

However, for women without access to Medicare or those seeking later-term abortions it can cost up to $8000 out of pocket.

Some women were also being forced to travel across state borders to secure an affordable abortion or a later-term abortion.

In the wake of the Supreme Court in America overturning Roe v Wade, MSI Australia Managing Director Jamal Hakim said it was time to invest in universal access across Australia.

“Abortion access is still a postcode lottery in Australia,’’ he said.

“To end the postcode lottery, we need to harmonise state and territory legislation alongside investing in universal abortion access and embed abortion care in the healthcare system.’’

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Uproar over the overturning of Roe v Wade in the US has shone a light on abortion laws in our own country. Picture: Samuel Corum / AFP

“As the national provider of abortion care, our staff are acutely aware of identifying and navigating barriers of abortion access,” he said.

“We can work with the challenges like two doctor approvals and mandatory counselling referrals, and minimise the complications that creates for the client experience. We cannot, however, continue to subsidise the cost of over-regulation of what is a safe and common healthcare service.

“Universal abortion access would mean the Government subsidises the cost of abortion, for anyone in Australia, regardless of their postcode.”

The positives identified by the report card include the fact that safe access zones are now legislated everywhere, meaning clients, their support people and staff can access clinics without fear of harassment or intimidation.

Safe access zones are now legislated everywhere in Australia, meaning that clients can access clinics without fear of harassment or intimidation. Picture: Steve Tanner

“Due to abortion laws progressing over the past five years, women and pregnant people can access abortion care without risk of criminalisation in almost every state, except WA,’’ Mr Hakim said.

“This month, South Australian regulatory changes will mean that every person in Australia can legally access medical abortion via telehealth (teleabortion). Offering medical abortion at home is a safe and private abortion option, which for some will reduce costs, including childcare and travel time.

Head of Policy, Bonney Corbin, said the report card was a reminder of where there is still work to do.

“We have pregnant women that will fly from WA to Queensland to access surgical abortion care – that is the entire length of the country,’’ she told news.com.au.

“That’s to access something that doctors could deliver if they worked in a system that would allow them.

“We deserve to have an understanding of the laws that govern our bodies and our lives,’’ she said.

“Unlike the US, we have bipartisan leadership that commits to abortion equity this decade.

“It is time for State and Territory Governments to come to the table and mend Australia’s patchwork of abortion access.

“We have a long way to go.”

Originally published as ‘Postcode lottery’: Women’s access to abortion in Australia under fire