Both major parties pledge free abortion care ahead of Victorian election

By Jiali Hong- “Student journalists at the University of Melbourne”

Both major parties have promised that Victorian women will not pay out of pocket for abortion care, after the Coalition matched a Labor election pledge within hours of it being announced. Victorian Labor said on Tuesday that it would fund free abortion care if re-elected on 28 November. The policy is estimated to cost $30 million over four years, and Labor estimates it will save women at least $700.

Under the pledge, participating private providers would be paid to deliver medical and surgical abortions before 16 weeks’ gestation. The window for medical abortion would be extended from nine to 10 weeks. Women who need to travel long distances could use the Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme, which would cover care from rural generalists specialising in anaesthesia and obstetrics. Safer Care Victoria would be asked to lead a clinical review into extending medical abortion to 12 weeks. Health Minister Ingrid Stitt also announced portable ultrasound machines for 20 sexual and reproductive health hubs.

“Only Labor will protect a woman’s right to choose,” Ms Stitt said.

Opposition Leader Jess Wilson matched the pledge hours later, saying women would not be out of pocket for abortions up to 16 weeks. Ms Wilson has previously promised no changes to Victoria’s abortion laws. “Labor has had 12 years to improve access to healthcare but are instead choosing to play politics,” Ms Wilson said in a statement.

What women currently pay

More than two-thirds of Victorians who access abortion in the private system pay out of pocket, according to Ms Stitt. Costs can include blood tests, scans, other screening and medication, and regional women may also face travel costs. Victorian Council of Social Service chief executive Juanita Pope said abortion costs typically exceed $1,000 and called the announcement a “critical step forward”.

Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell said she had paid more than $1,000 herself. “Our bodies should not be on the ballot at all,” Ms Purcell said.

Danielle Mazza of Monash University said cost should not be the deciding factor in access.“Cost should never determine whether someone can access timely, high-quality abortion care,” she said.

Cost is not the only barrier

Eighty-three per cent of Victorian GPs do not provide abortion care, and the state has identified “abortion deserts” in rural areas. A 2024 Women’s Health Victoria report found women in regional Victoria were almost twice as likely as metropolitan women to seek an abortion after 12 weeks’ gestation.

Other parties

Greens leader Ellen Sandell said the policy had her support but had come four years too late. One Nation’s Victorian leader Warren Pickering said the party had no plans to change abortion laws. In 2022, Mr Pickering had said the party wanted to make abortion harder to access after 12 weeks. Neither party has said when the policy would take effect.

Source：

• “Opposition matches Labor pledge to provide free abortion care if re-elected in Victoria”, ABC News, 15 October 2026
• “Labor pledges to provide free abortion care if it’s re-elected in Victoria next month”, ABC News, 14 October 2026
• Ingrid Stitt, Minister for Health, statement, 14 October 2026
• Jess Wilson, Leader of the Opposition, statement, 14 October 2026
• Women’s Health Victoria, report, 2024