Capitol Territory turns into first Australia state to supply free abortion care – JURIST

The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Thursday became the primary Australian state to ensure free abortion care.

The brand new coverage permits girls residing within the ACT to acquire abortion as much as 16 weeks gestation. The ACT authorities famous that price was a big barrier to secure and authorized abortions within the state. In a press launch, the federal government mentioned, “Making these providers free for all ACT residents, together with these with out entry to Medicare, offers pregnant individuals larger means to make their very own selections about their healthcare.”

ACT Well being Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said, whereas the coverage is a step ahead for Australian reproductive rights, extra work nonetheless must be accomplished regarding entry. “The ACT Authorities will proceed to interact with service suppliers, together with basic practices and our non-government group companions, as we work to broaden providers throughout the ACT,” mentioned Stephen-Smith.

Sexual Well being & Household Planning Govt Director Tim Bavinton additionally welcomed the announcement, saying:

Sexual Well being and Household Planning ACT (SHFPACT) welcomes these subsequent steps to ship on the ACT Authorities’s finances dedication to enhance abortion entry within the Canberra group, and we sit up for working with authorities, NGOs and different main well being care suppliers and providers to make sure well timed and equitable entry to abortion and long-acting reversible contraception choices.

The free providers are a part of the ACT authorities’s dedication of $4.6 million over the subsequent 4 years and observe an ACT Legislative Assembly inquiry report analyzing the experiences of these looking for the abortions within the ACT.

The inquiry report made 18 suggestions, together with free entry, assets for post-procedural assist and psychological well being assist. The report additionally steered the publishing of medical knowledge surrounding reproductive coercion within the ACT.