Cassy O’Connor MP | Greens’ Leader
Today’s revelation that Tasmania’s only reproductive health clinic has closed will place women seeking a pregnancy termination in extremely difficult positions, particularly those in disadvantaged and regional areas.
Despite the passage of historic legislation decriminalising abortion in 2013, reproductive health options are narrowing for Tasmanian women, leaving them with too few accessible choices.
Tasmania now only has one private practitioner who can conduct surgical terminations, and only on a part time basis.
For many women in disadvantaged communities, making an already distressing choice, the cost of surgery, travel, accommodation or flights to the mainland will be something they can't comprehend being able to fund.
Tasmania’s reproductive health laws were put in place to provide choices for women, but this current situation leaves them with very few.
The Hodgman Government needs to step in as a matter of priority, and move to ensure surgical terminations can be made available in public hospitals.
Tasmanian women shouldn’t be left without healthcare options at critical times in their lives.
We encourage the Liberals to do the right thing, and hope Health Minister, Michael Ferguson’s well-known ideological opposition doesn’t get in the way of good healthcare outcomes for Tasmanian women.