Labor intervenes with states for trans issues, won’t do the same for abortions

It’s claimed Labor will let states decide whether or not public hospitals will provide surgical abortions despite having intervened in Queensland’s review of puberty blockers.

Finance, Women and Public Service Minister Katy Gallagher at a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Labor is being accused of hypocrisy over its claims it will let states decide whether or not public hospitals will provide surgical abortions, despite having intervened in Queensland’s review of puberty blockers and temporary pause in their prescription.

On the back of a $573m pledge to make contraceptives and hormone replacement therapies cheaper, Womens Minister Katy Gallagher on Sunday revealed the government’s long-awaited response to a parliamentary report into expanding reproductive healthcare more broadly would be handed down next week.

Despite the report recommending all public hospitals either offer surgical terminations or provide timely pathways to do so, Senator Gallagher signalled the Albanese government would not reintroduce its policy of the past and tie hospital funding to abortion access.

“Public hospitals, they’re run by the states and territories, so you know, that really is a decision for them about access to surgical terminations in those facilities,” she told the ABC.

But the Greens pointed to Health Minister Mark Butler’s demand that the Queensland government not pause the prescription of puberty blockers for children, and conduct a review into gender care, given the commonwealth had decided to undertake a nationwide review of its own.

“The federal Labor government was willing to urge the Queensland government not to continue with the plan to pause hormone therapy access for children in order to maintain national consistency, so they could do the same for surgical abortion access in public hospitals,” said Greens women’s spokeswoman Larissa Waters.

“Federal Labor could require national provision of abortion healthcare in all public hospitals as a proviso for receiving commonwealth funding, like they proposed in 2019.”

Larissa Waters holds a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

The women’s health announcement comes weeks ahead of an election, with Labor seeking to criticise the Coalition for running cold on such issues.

“We know that Peter Dutton wanders around saying he’s going to cut a whole range of things, it’s clear that he sees a lot of our investments in Medicare as wasteful spending,” Senator Gallagher said.

The Coalition had slammed Labor for its “Mediscare” campaign, declaring there would be no difference in funding if it was in government.

Opposition health spokeswoman Anne Ruston was quick to back in Labor’s contraceptive announcement on Sunday.

“This package builds on the important work we started in government and it is in line with our strong commitment to supporting better women’s health outcomes in Australia,” she said.

“Whether it is helping women who live with chronic health conditions like endometriosis, supporting women with menopause, or helping families on their fertility journey, we are committed to getting the policy settings right.”

As part of the $573m package, hormone replacement therapies and a wider range of contraceptive pills will be added to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme from March 1, which will save women hundreds of dollars every year.

The government would also expand the network of endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics, while also setting up eight training centres for health professionals to learn how to insert contraceptives like the IUD.

Opposition legal affairs spokeswoman Michaelia Cash said she was “really pleased” that Labor was building on the network of endometriosis clinics that the Coalition had set up.

Australian Medical Association president Danielle McMullen said the $573m announcement showed Labor was taking “very positive steps forward” on women’s reproductive health.

“This announcement today is a major investment in women’s health and will provide significant relief for women across Australia,” Dr McMullen said.