Australia – The game-changing plan to cut barriers to medical abortion

By Nell Geraets
January 16, 2023

A push is under way to make medical abortion more accessible across Australia by cutting down the regulatory barriers around who can prescribe the pill combination and where it can be stocked.

Non-profit pharmaceutical company MS Health – the private sponsor behind medical abortion in Australia – submitted applications to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) in December that proposed expanding the number of health practitioners eligible to prescribe the medication, and removing the requirements for recertification and pharmacist registration.

Continued: https://www.smh.com.au/national/the-game-changing-plan-to-cut-barriers-to-medical-abortion-20230108-p5cb2i.html

Australian abortion and contraceptive provider’s ads banned by Google

MSI Australia has been prevented from promoting its services through paid ads on Google since 3 December

Josh Taylor
Thu 15 Dec 2022

Abortion and contraceptive provider MSI Australia says Google has banned its advertising in searches under a misinterpretation of law in Australia.

Since 3 December, MSI Australia has been prevented from promoting its services through paid ads on Google, with the tech company placing a wide-ranging ban on advertising links to the MSI website in paid advertising.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/dec/15/australian-abortion-and-contraceptive-providers-ads-banned-by-google

15.12.2022

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Australia – With closure of Marie Stopes clinics, regional women seeking an abortion will now find it even tougher

By Lily Nothling
Aug 29, 2021

When Zoe Eaton fell pregnant during high school, she knew she wanted an abortion, but getting one didn't come without hurdles.

"I didn't expect that I was going to be pregnant at 17. It was not something I wanted for myself," Ms Eaton said. "To me, my future looked pretty bleak if I had to go through with that pregnancy."

Continued: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-08-30/access-to-abortion-really-difficult-in-regional-qld/100414012

Abortion clinic protests banned in WA as safe access zones bill approved to protect women

By Rhiannon Shine
Aug 12, 2021

Protesting outside abortion clinics will no longer be allowed in any Australian jurisdiction, after laws to introduce safe access zones in Western Australia passed State Parliament.

The Public Health Amendment (Safe Access Zones) Bill 2021 passed the Labor-dominated Legislative Council today.

Continued: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-08-12/wa-abortion-clinic-protests-banned-under-safe-access-zones-bill/100366664

Australia – Abortion and reproductive health clinics struggling with stigma and rising costs

The Signal
By Ange Lavoipierre and Stephen Smiley
Mon 12 Jul 2021

There's an assumption that it's relatively easy to access an abortion in Australia, but the truth is that it really depends on where you live.

There is still a struggle to provide access in many parts of the country, according to Jamal Hakim, the managing director of an NGO that provides reproductive health services in both metropolitan and regional areas.

Continued: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-07-13/abortion-in-regional-postcode-lottery/100288484

12.07.2021

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Dr Andrew Crossman

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Key abortion provider Marie Stopes closes regional clinics in Queensland, NSW

Abortion counsellors concerned shutdowns more heavily impact vulnerable women in Queensland communities

Ben Smee
Fri 18 Jun 2021

Family planning organisation Marie Stopes Australia says its regional abortion clinics are “no longer financially viable” and will close next month, prompting concerns some women in regional Queensland could have to travel more than 2000km to access services.

Marie Stopes operates the only private clinics offering surgical abortions north of the Sunshine Coast – in Rockhampton and Townsville. The non-profit organisation will also close clinics on the Gold Coast and in Newcastle, New South Wales.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/jun/18/key-abortion-provider-marie-stopes-closes-regional-clinics-in-queensland-nsw

18.06.2021

Children by Choice

Daile Kelleher

Jamal Hakim

Marie Stopes Australia

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Australia – The Federal Budget must invest in abortion care

MAY 11, 2021

The Government has announced investments of $353.9 million over the next 4 years for women’s health as part of the 2021-22 Budget. It is not yet clear if, how and where this investment will fund equity and access in abortion care.

This investment is linked to the five priority areas of the National Women’s Health Strategy 2020–2030 and the improvement of long term health outcomes for women and girls. Priority area 1 is maternal, sexual and reproductive health.

Continued: https://www.mariestopes.org.au/your-choices/federal-budget-abortion/

11.05.2021

Marie Stopes Australia

National Women's Health Strategy

Australia – Leading health and medical experts sound the alarm over telehealth restrictions

July 29, 2020
Marie McInerney

Hundreds of leading public health, nursing, midwifery and medical experts and organisations have signed an open letter urging the Federal Government to modify new restrictions on telehealth provision.

In an accompanying statement issued yesterday, the Government is warned that the changes “may already be having a devastating impact on sexual and reproductive health during the pandemic”.

Continued: https://croakey.org/leading-health-and-medical-experts-sound-the-alarm-over-telehealth-restrictions/

A Supplier Refused To Fill A Face Mask Order For An Australian Abortion Provider Because They’re For “Health Professionals”

A Supplier Refused To Fill A Face Mask Order For An Australian Abortion Provider Because They're For "Health Professionals"
Exclusive: Marie Stopes Australia says it only has two weeks worth of face masks left as orders are cancelled in the coronavirus pandemic.

Posted on April 6, 2020,
Gina Rushton, BuzzFeed News Reporter, Australia

Australia's largest abortion provider says its supply of face masks and hand sanitiser for carrying out surgical abortions will only last two more weeks after a number of orders from private personal protective equipment (PPE) providers were cancelled or refused in the coronavirus pandemic.

In one instance, a private company cancelled an order from Marie Stopes Australia (MSA) on the basis it was reserving supplies for "health professionals".

Continued: https://www.buzzfeed.com/ginarushton/face-masks-running-low-abortion-marie-stopes-australia

How much do abortions cost across Australia? – explainer

How much do abortions cost across Australia? – explainer

In some areas women can pay as much as $800 for a first trimester termination. Guardian Australia looks at how prohibitive expenses interact with legal restrictions to limit access

Anna Livsey
@annalivsey_
Tuesday 22 August 2017

Campaigns for easier access to abortion in Australia have largely focused on changes to the law but in a speech last week the Labor deputy leader, Tanya Plibersek, highlighted another crucial factor: cost.

“For many women abortions are unaffordable and unattainable,” she said. “The legal right to access a termination isn’t much use to a homeless teenager when the upfront cost of an abortion is more than $500.”

Continued at source: The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2017/aug/22/how-much-do-abortions-cost-across-australia-explainer