Abortion advocates demand statewide access at a rally on Parliament Lawns

TALKS between the State Government and Australia’s leading independent abortion provider have gone quiet, despite news that up to 10 Tasmanian women are being forced to travel interstate each month for surgical terminations.

The crowd at Parliament Lawns about women’s health and access to abortion services. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

TALKS between the State Government and Australia’s leading independent abortion provider have gone quiet, despite news that up to 10 Tasmanian women are being forced to travel interstate each month for surgical terminations.

Marie Stopes Australia CEO Michelle Thompson said she had spoken with the Government about setting up a clinic in Hobart but conversations were now bogged down in politics.

“At the moment, there seems there is no solution to this problem,” she said.

“We contacted the state health ministry here in Tasmania and spoke with them about how Marie Stopes could intervene.

“We had a conversation about two weeks ago but it’s been bogged down in the politics of surgical termination.”

Ms Thompson said Marie Stopes was prepared to work collaboratively with the Government to provide both surgical and medical abortions under a funded scheme.

Carole Benham at the protest about women’s health and access to abortion services. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

Women seeking publicly funded abortions have to travel interstate after the state’s last abortion clinic in Hobart closed on New Year’s Eve.

Hundreds of abortion advocates gathered on Parliament Lawns this afternoon to rally for statewide access to reproductive health and pregnancy termination services.

Carole Benham, of Hobart, said she was “gobsmacked” that women still had to protest for the right to access free safe abortions within the state.

“I feel like I’m in 1918, not 2018, the Health Minister has a lot to answer for, he’s failing our women,” she said.

Another protester, Elizabeth Smith, said if she needed to access a termination in the state after nine weeks it would cost her $2500.

“I may as well move to Ireland,” she said.

“I’m not asking for the law to be changed, I’m just asking that the State Government fund the law.”

Elizabeth Smith at the rally. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

In January, the State Government extended its patient travel assistance scheme to women referred by their GP to Melbourne for surgical abortions as a temporary fix to the problem.

Premier Will Hodgman yesterday said the Government recognised the need for a more sustainable support system and service for Tasmanian women.

“Through the Department of Health and Human Services we are working with potential providers for an appropriate service for Tasmanian women so they are not disadvantaged,” he said.

“We want Tasmanian women to have equal access to services, appropriate access, and our commitment is to provide that.”

Labor health spokeswoman Sarah Lovell said there was no reason pregnancy terminations couldn’t be provided to Tasmanian women through the state’s public health system.

“Extending the travel assistance scheme and expecting women to travel to Melbourne to access this procedure is absolutely negligent,” she said.

“They are letting Tasmanian women down.”

Greens leader Cassy O’Connor said it wasn’t a political issue but a people issue.

“You have a very conservative health minister that has almost complete influence over policy, even though the law is on the side of women’s choice.

“It’s not good enough, this is Tasmania in 2018 and we have gone backwards under the Liberals.”