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Bridget Sielicki
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Political parties in Australian state promise voters 'free' abortions if they win
Leaders in Victoria, Australia, have announced a plan to implement 'free' abortions for women, making Victoria the first Australian state to cover the complete costs of abortion. The pledge is the result of vying between opposing political parties ahead of an upcoming election.
Both the Labor party and a Liberal National Coalition have made campaign promises that abortions in Victoria will be cost-free to women seeking abortion.
This means the policy will be implemented regardless of the outcome of an upcoming election.
Supporters insinuate that 'free' abortions are necessary for low-income women who struggle with expenses; however, no financial help is being offered by the parties for expenses associated with pregnancy or parenting.
Free abortion is not a solution to poverty, and only exacts more pressure on women to choose abortion.
According to the Guardian, last Thursday the Labor party in Victoria promised it would spend $30 million to make abortion 'free' if it wins the upcoming election.
“Only Labor will protect a woman’s right to choose,” Labor’s health minister, Ingrid Stitt, boasted.
In response, Opposition leader Jess Wilson also promised that a Liberal National Coalition government would match that offer if elected, though she refused to promise to expand abortion laws.
“Victorians know where I stand on this issue. There will be no changes to abortion laws under a government I lead. Full stop. And I think it’s incredibly disappointing to see Labor playing politics with women’s reproductive rights five minutes before an election,” she said.
As a result of these campaign promises, abortion in Victoria up to 16 weeks will be 'cost-free' to abortion seekers no matter who wins the election, with expenses such as GP and specialist consultations, scans, tests or medication expected to be completely covered. Travel expenses for women who live in rural Victoria are also expected to be covered.
Victorian Council of Social Service CEO Juanita Pope called the promise a "critical step forward," insinuating that low-income families need 'free' abortion due to the rising costs of everyday items.
"With abortion costs typically amounting to over $1,000, that can mean choosing between paying rent that month, putting food on the table, or accessing critical reproductive healthcare," she said.
But offering women 'free' abortions rather than financial support to help them raise their children is a form of coercion, as these mothers feel pressured to choose the 'free' abortion due to financial circumstances.
If a family needs help putting food on the table or paying rent, they don't need to be told that they should kill their children in order to make ends meet. Instead, they need financial assistance to ensure that the needs of all family members — born and preborn — are provided for.
There is no such thing as a 'free' abortion. All abortions come at a financial cost; when they are free to women aborting, taxpayers are usually the ones footing the bill.
Women need financial support and guidance, not an offer to kill their preborn children at no financial cost to them.
The cost, however, of ending an innocent human life, is incalculable.
Live Action News is pro-life news and commentary from a pro-life perspective.
Our work is possible because of our donors. Please consider giving to further our work of changing hearts and minds on issues of life and human dignity.
Contact editor@liveaction.org for questions, corrections, or if you are seeking permission to reprint any Live Action News content.
Guest Articles: To submit a guest article to Live Action News, email editor@liveaction.org with an attached Word document of 800-1000 words. Please also attach any photos relevant to your submission if applicable. If your submission is accepted for publication, you will be notified within three weeks. Guest articles are not compensated (see our Open License Agreement). Thank you for your interest in Live Action News!
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Analysis
Bridget Sielicki
·International·By Bridget Sielicki
Political parties in Australian state promise voters 'free' abortions if they win
Leaders in Victoria, Australia, have announced a plan to implement 'free' abortions for women, making Victoria the first Australian state to cover the complete costs of abortion. The pledge is the result of vying between opposing political parties ahead of an upcoming election.
Both the Labor party and a Liberal National Coalition have made campaign promises that abortions in Victoria will be cost-free to women seeking abortion.
This means the policy will be implemented regardless of the outcome of an upcoming election.
Supporters insinuate that 'free' abortions are necessary for low-income women who struggle with expenses; however, no financial help is being offered by the parties for expenses associated with pregnancy or parenting.
Free abortion is not a solution to poverty, and only exacts more pressure on women to choose abortion.
According to the Guardian, last Thursday the Labor party in Victoria promised it would spend $30 million to make abortion 'free' if it wins the upcoming election.
“Only Labor will protect a woman’s right to choose,” Labor’s health minister, Ingrid Stitt, boasted.
In response, Opposition leader Jess Wilson also promised that a Liberal National Coalition government would match that offer if elected, though she refused to promise to expand abortion laws.
“Victorians know where I stand on this issue. There will be no changes to abortion laws under a government I lead. Full stop. And I think it’s incredibly disappointing to see Labor playing politics with women’s reproductive rights five minutes before an election,” she said.
As a result of these campaign promises, abortion in Victoria up to 16 weeks will be 'cost-free' to abortion seekers no matter who wins the election, with expenses such as GP and specialist consultations, scans, tests or medication expected to be completely covered. Travel expenses for women who live in rural Victoria are also expected to be covered.
Victorian Council of Social Service CEO Juanita Pope called the promise a "critical step forward," insinuating that low-income families need 'free' abortion due to the rising costs of everyday items.
"With abortion costs typically amounting to over $1,000, that can mean choosing between paying rent that month, putting food on the table, or accessing critical reproductive healthcare," she said.
But offering women 'free' abortions rather than financial support to help them raise their children is a form of coercion, as these mothers feel pressured to choose the 'free' abortion due to financial circumstances.
If a family needs help putting food on the table or paying rent, they don't need to be told that they should kill their children in order to make ends meet. Instead, they need financial assistance to ensure that the needs of all family members — born and preborn — are provided for.
There is no such thing as a 'free' abortion. All abortions come at a financial cost; when they are free to women aborting, taxpayers are usually the ones footing the bill.
Women need financial support and guidance, not an offer to kill their preborn children at no financial cost to them.
The cost, however, of ending an innocent human life, is incalculable.
Live Action News is pro-life news and commentary from a pro-life perspective.
Our work is possible because of our donors. Please consider giving to further our work of changing hearts and minds on issues of life and human dignity.
Contact editor@liveaction.org for questions, corrections, or if you are seeking permission to reprint any Live Action News content.
Guest Articles: To submit a guest article to Live Action News, email editor@liveaction.org with an attached Word document of 800-1000 words. Please also attach any photos relevant to your submission if applicable. If your submission is accepted for publication, you will be notified within three weeks. Guest articles are not compensated (see our Open License Agreement). Thank you for your interest in Live Action News!
Bridget Sielicki
·Guest Column
Right to Life UK
·International
Cassy Cooke
·International
Bridget Sielicki
·International
Angeline Tan
·Issues
Cassy Cooke
·Issues
Bridget Sielicki
·Politics
Bridget Sielicki
·Human Interest
Bridget Sielicki
·International
Bridget Sielicki
·Analysis
Bridget Sielicki
·