The Greens have promised to introduce a invoice banning the Queensland authorities from any new offers to outsource public hospitals to organisations that refuse to supply abortions.
The promise, days earlier than the Queensland election, comes amid a heated statewide abortion debate. It follows reporting by Guardian Australia final 12 months revealing issues that Catholic-run public hospitals wouldn’t present reproductive care.
Labor has sought to make abortion a key situation at Saturday’s ballot, after the opposition chief, David Crisafulli, repeatedly refused to stipulate his private place or say whether or not Liberal Nationwide celebration MPs could be granted a conscience vote.
Whereas the problem is enjoying out within the mainstream contest between Labor and the LNP, pollsters say the largest influence might be to bolster the federal government’s help amongst progressive voters, together with in areas the place seats are in danger to the Greens.
On Thursday, the Greens will announce a “universal access” coverage and have sought to attract consideration to Labor failures to extend entry, together with offers with Catholic organisation Mater to run public hospitals.
On the eve of the state election, Labor spruiked $1bn funding for a brand new “world class” public hospital at Springfield – the state’s fastest-growing area – that may be constructed and run by Mater, which refuses on non secular grounds to carry out abortions or provide contraception.
“[The Springfield hospital] will be the only public hospital in town, and thanks to Labor it will be run by an ideologically anti-choice organisation, leaving women and pregnant people to travel away from home to access this basic healthcare,” the Greens well being spokesperson, Amy MacMahon, mentioned.
“Labor should know better. Public hospitals should be publicly run, and never discriminate based on outdated ideological dogma.”
Guardian Australia’s reporting on the practices at Catholic-run hospitals prompted criticism of Labor governments for refusing to tie public hospital funding to full reproductive care.
The Greens’ proposed ban on any new offers to outsource the operating of well being or hospital providers to “anti-choice” organisations – together with suppliers reminiscent of Mater – wouldn’t apply to current preparations, together with the Mater public and moms’ hospitals at South Brisbane, and the under-construction hospital at Springfield.
Labor decriminalised abortion in 2018 and final 12 months handed new legal guidelines permitting nurses to prescribe medical abortion capsules. The Greens say that regardless of the progress, not sufficient has been finished to permit entry.
The celebration’s coverage would require every of the state’s 15 well being and hospital service areas to supply applicable termination of being pregnant providers. It will additionally make entry to medical abortions free at public well being clinics, along with offering funding for telehealth providers and journey subsidies for ladies who can not entry native providers.
“Despite legalisation, access to abortion is still a postcode lottery, and for many people, their only option will be a costly private clinic that can cost between $250 and $4,000,” MacMahon mentioned.
Guardian Australia revealed on Wednesday that Crisafulli beforehand instructed a reside viewers: “I don’t believe in late-term abortions.”
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He instructed a debate on Wednesday evening he supported a girl’s proper to decide on. The problem has gained traction as a result of Crisafulli’s ongoing refusal to say whether or not his MPs – together with a number of who’re on report opposing abortions – could be given a conscience vote ought to the matter attain the ground of parliament.
Labor says its MPs could be given a conscience vote; the overwhelming majority help the celebration’s legal guidelines, however a handful have supported amendments or abstained from votes in recent times.
The Greens say their MPs would vote as a bloc and be certain by the celebration’s pro-choice place.
MacMahon mentioned Greens MPs would “never vote to make it harder to access abortion, or ever vote to make it a crime”.
The well being minister, Shannon Fentiman, mentioned earlier this month in response to questions concerning the Springfield hospital cope with Mater that Labor was “leading the nation for termination of pregnancy services and support”.
The federal government says all well being and hospital providers provide “pathways” for ladies to entry termination of being pregnant providers – together with through satellite tv for pc hospitals, nurse-led clinics and a deliberate digital clinic – and that these shall be obtainable to ladies within the Springfield space.
