The ACT has become the first jurisdiction in Australia to offer free abortions, with Canberrans now able to access no-cost abortion services.
Announced by the Minister for Health, Rachel Stephen-Smith, $4.6 million has been allocated over four years, delivering on a key commitment in the ACT Women’s Plan 2016-26.
Ms Stephen-Smith said the services would be available to all ACT residents, including those without a Medicare card.
She said free long-acting reversible contraception would also be made available, if wanted, at the time of abortion.
“This is about providing women and people who need an abortion with access to the right supports and services without stigmatisation or financial burden,” Ms Stephen-Smith said.
“Abortion is a health service and not being able to access appropriate care in a timely way can have a detrimental impact on a person’s mental and physical health as well as socioeconomic consequences.”
She said medical abortions up to nine weeks gestation were available through a trained GP, telehealth service or MSI Australia (formally known as Marie Stopes Australia), while MSI Australia also offered surgical abortions up to 16 weeks gestation.
Ms Stephen-Smith said the announcement meant that no-cost surgical abortions and long-acting reversible contraceptives at the time of surgical abortion would be available at MSI Australia over a four-year funding period.
“As a first step in providing wider access to free abortion services, no-cost medical abortions and free long-acting reversible contraceptives will also be available from MSI Australia from this week while negotiations continue to expand the scheme to other providers.”
