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NewsRuth Forrest says Tasmanian women need access to safe abortionsBy Sue BaileyUpdated May 30 2018 - 6:36pm, first published 11:53amBy Sue BaileyUpdated May 30 2018 - 6:36pm, first

published 11:53amFacebookTwitterWhatsappEmailCopyMLC says women need access to safe abortions Women on low incomes and in regional Tasmania are being disadvantaged because of a lack of

50% off EOFY SaleAll articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperCrosswords, Sudoku and TriviaAll other regional websites in your areaContinue She will move a motion

in the Legislative Council calling on Health Minister Michael Ferguson to ensure all Tasmanian women have equitable access to termination of pregnancy services  in the public hospital

system.

Ms Forrest said her motion was not about whether terminations should be available because that had already been decided by parliament in 2013.

“It is about equity of access for all Tasmanian women to a medical procedure that is legal and safe to perform in any of our major hospitals,” she said.

“It is an important part of sexual and reproductive health services and part of a comprehensive public health service.

“A lot of women don’t want to talk about it because there is still some shame attached to it and while we have some services available in public hospitals there is only limited access.”

RELATED: Ireland's strict abortion laws resonate with Tasmanian women, says advocate

Ms Forrest said under the current arrangements only women who were at risk of serious health outcomes or with foetal abnormalities were able to access terminations in Tasmania’s public

hospitals.  

“The current arrangements negatively impact on poor women and women from regional areas of the State,” she said.

“This is not equitable, reasonable or defendable.

“Women from regional areas, who lack financial resources and do not have a foetal or maternal anomaly are being discriminated against.

“This flies in the face of the 2013 support of the Parliament for such access.”

Ms Forrest said she had been contacted by one woman who had paid $2750 to go to Melbourne for a termination and even with transport subsidies she was considerably out of pocket.

“Many women facing challenges will consider unsafe measures to end the pregnancy,” she said.

“Some will use home remedies and unsafe terminations which will have dire consequences.”

The Tasmanian government said recently it was in discussions with a provider to set up a low-cost abortion service in Tasmania.

Since the state’s last remaining low-cost private termination services provider pulled out of the state, an estimated 10 to 12 women each month have had to travel interstate to receive the

procedure in hospital.

This has been with the support of Tasmanian government subsidies.

At present, Tasmanian hospitals only provide termination services when there is a risk to a mother or her foetus.

There are still two providers in Tasmania who offer the service at a $2500 cost.

Ms Forrest’s motion will be debated on June 12.

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