News
6 July, 2024
Investment to support access to abortion services
The Miles Government is investing $20.78 million to improve access to abortion services and support the healthcare workforce in Queensland.
The Miles Government is investing $20.78 million to improve access to abortion services and support the healthcare workforce in Queensland. This initiative includes recruiting up to 22 full-time nurses, midwives, social workers, and senior medical officers across Hospital and Health Services statewide.
An additional $8 million will be allocated to the NGO Children by Choice to provide essential wraparound services and enhance access to safe abortion care. This funding, ranging from $1 million to $1.6 million for each Hospital and Health Service, will enable specialist staff to assist patients in navigating their options and securing time-sensitive abortion services.
The funding follows landmark reforms allowing suitably qualified nurses and midwives to perform medical abortions in early pregnancy using MS2-Step, effective from the second half of 2024. These reforms are expected to make it easier for women, especially in rural and remote areas, to access abortion services without having to travel long distances.
This investment is part of the $41.8 million Termination of Pregnancy Action Plan 2032, announced earlier this year, which aims to provide safer, more accessible reproductive healthcare across Queensland.
Minister for Health, Mental Health, and Ambulance Services, Shannon Fentiman, emphasized the importance of supporting Queenslanders’ reproductive healthcare choices. She also criticized the LNP for voting against abortion decriminalisation and timely access to services, asserting that the Miles Government's reforms are a vital step forward for women's rights.
Jill McKay, CEO of Children by Choice, welcomed the funding, noting that despite decriminalisation, barriers to accessing abortion services still exist. She expressed support for the government’s investment in ensuring equitable access to reproductive healthcare.
