Victorian Labor promises free abortions if re-elected

Key points

• A re-elected Victorian Labor government would fully subsidise medicine-induced and surgical abortions, Health Minister Ingrid Stitt and the Premier announced. The government says the move would save people between $700 and $1000.
• Currently, some costs are covered by Medicare, and about two-thirds of Victorian women pay some out-of-pocket costs. The package also extends the medical abortion window from nine to 10 weeks.
• The Royal Australian College of GPs and Monash University welcomed the plan but called for national consistency.