Despite healthcare being a major focus in the 2025 federal election campaign, advocates have pointed out that abortion rights have been largely absent from the national conversation.
Therefore, 40 health and medical organisations have today called on all candidates and political parties running to publicly affirm their support for affordable and accessible abortion for Australian women.
Among the many leading advocates are the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, Women’s Health Victoria, Australian Women’s Health Alliance, Jean Hailes for Women’s Health, MSI Australia, the Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health, Trans Gender Victoria, RANZCOG, Family Planning Alliance Australia and the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation.
Approximately half of all pregnancies are unplanned, and one in four women will have an abortion in their lifetime.
Despite this, access in Australia is limited, as only 11 per cent of GPs in Australia prescribe medication abortion. Many publicly funded hospitals that provide maternity and women’s health services don’t provide abortion care, or care is limited.
Data from 2021 shows one in three Australian women, and 50 per cent of women in remote areas, had no local GP providing medication abortion.
“Abortion is essential healthcare and must be available to anyone who needs it,” says the CEO of Women’s Health Victoria, Sally Hasler.
“We know that abortion continues to be stigmatised and this leads to significant barriers to access – especially if you are on a low income, or live in a regional area. In Victoria alone, around two-thirds of local government areas have no surgical abortion providers.”
“If those candidates seeking your votes in this election are serious about providing universal healthcare for all Australians, then they must commit to ensuring safe, affordable, accessible abortion care.”
Five key abortion rights commitments
These health advocates have released a joint statement with five key commitments to strengthen access to abortion.
They included demonstrating national leadership to affirm abortion as essential healthcare and ensuring the Medicare Benefits Schedule included appropriate remuneration for healthcare providers to deliver affordable care.
Advocates are also asking politicians to support workforce capacity building by working with medical and professional colleges providing sexual, reproductive and maternal healthcare training.
In addition, they say it’s important to ensure public hospitals provide abortion care as part of standard, comprehensive reproductive health services. And politicians should work with state and territory governments to implement all 36 recommendations from the Senate Inquiry into universal access to reproductive healthcare.
Unified political leadership
While Australia’s healthcare system is built on the promise of universal access, many in this country still struggle to access abortion services due to geography, cost, limited providers, stigma and discrimination.
There are ongoing barriers to abortion that disproportionately impact people on low-incomes, those in rural and remote communities, young people, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and migrant and refugee communities.
The rise of the global anti-rights movement also threatens reproductive rights locally, which is why access to abortion must be protected and prioritised as part of national health policy.
“Abortion services are an essential part of healthcare, and we must ensure timely, safe, and affordable access for everyone who needs it across Australia,” says the Chair of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (Victoria), Dr Anita Muñoz.
“The RACGP applauded the bipartisan commitment to funding more contraceptive choices for women, including new generation pills and IUDs. We need to see the same support from all political parties to ensure affordable and accessible abortion care.”
Federal Secretary of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation, Annie Butler says Australian women deserve to know which federal candidates will commit to improving abortion access if elected.
“Already, the Albanese Government has committed to a landmark, $500 million women’s health package for cheaper and more equitable access to contraception, endometriosis and menopause treatments – and we need better access to abortion to be included in ongoing investments in women’s health,” says Butler.
“We believe it’s crucial that women across Australia have access to abortion as essential healthcare.”
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