Victoria will become Australia's first state to offer free abortion care, with both major parties now committed to covering out-of-pocket costs ahead of the November election.
Labor announced the policy first, pledging to cover costs for abortion care up to 16 weeks' gestation. The commitment includes GP and specialist consultations, scans, tests and medication, which can exceed $1,000 per patient.
Coalition opposition leader Jess Wilson matched the commitment on Thursday afternoon, telling The Guardian that a Liberal National Coalition government would provide the same coverage. Wilson said the Liberals and Nationals "will not allow Labor to play politics on this issue."
The policy creates rare bipartisan alignment on abortion access in Australia. Covering these out-of-pocket expenses removes a financial barrier to care that currently affects patients seeking abortion services in Victoria. The state's public health system already provides some abortion services, but patients often face significant costs for consultations, imaging and medication outside public pathways.
Both parties framed their positions as ensuring access to healthcare. The timing of the Coalition's matching announcement, hours after Labor's release, reflects an effort to prevent abortion from becoming a decisive campaign issue in the state election.
No details were provided in the source material about funding mechanisms, implementation timelines, or how the policy would operate within Victoria's existing healthcare infrastructure. The source does not indicate whether either party has released full policy documents or cost estimates for the commitment.