Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman says low-cost abortion service will return ‘soon’

PREMIER Will Hodgman can’t say exactly when Tasmanian women will again have access to low-cost abortions — but hopes it will be soon.

PREMIER Will Hodgman can’t say exactly when Tasmanian women will again have access to low-cost abortions — but hopes it will be soon.

The state’s only low-cost surgical abortion provider closed last December and the Government had promised a new service would be operating in October.

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But the provider has still not opened its doors.

Mr Hodgman was questioned over the starting date for the service at a media conference in Hobart on Wednesday morning.

“We remain very hopeful of a starting dates soon, as we’ve heard recently from the Health Department,” he said.

“We’ve struck an agreement with the provider. It’s now necessary for them to find suitable premises and secure an agreement with those premises providers to commence the facility operating.

“(We) expect that it will be able to open shortly. There are now discussions being undertaken with a property facility provided to allow that to happen.”

PROVIDER REQUESTS NAME, LOCATION NOT BE RELEASED

Premier Will Hodgman says he expects the new facility to be open “shortly”. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

Mr Hodgman said he was hopeful the service would be up and running by the end of the year.

“That is certainly our hope, within that time frame,” he said.

Health Department Secretary Michael Pervan last week said the service’s opening was imminent.

“This has taken longer than initially expected, and while the Department of Health is doing what it can to facilitate these negotiations, ultimately, it is a matter between two private entities, and it is important that this is finalised to the satisfaction of both parties,” he said.

The new provider is expected to charge $475 for a surgical termination, with the price to be reviewed in later years.

Labor health spokeswoman Sarah Lovell said the continuing failure was a betrayal of Tasmanian women.

“The Health Minister Michael Ferguson said services would be reinstated in October and he has now missed that important promised deadline completely,” Ms Lovell said.

“Today Premier Hodgman has appallingly told Tasmanians he can only ‘hope’ there will be a service by the end of the year.

“The Government has for 10 months now forced women to travel interstate – at huge cost and considerable inconvenience – to access safe and legal services.

“Premier Hodgman has allowed Michael Ferguson’s well-known personal opposition to abortion to clearly influence his responsibility as Health Minister to provide that safe and legal service for 10 months and today it has been revealed there is still no clear path forward.”