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Victoria to become first state to make abortions free as Coalition matches Labor election promise

The Guardian World Thursday 15 October 2026, 04:05 UTC By Benita Kolovos Victorian state correspondent 1 min read
Key Points

Exclusive: Out-of-pocket costs for abortion care to be covered regardless of who wins November election as Jess Wilson says Liberals and Nationals ‘will not allow Labor to play politics on this issue’Victorian will become the first state in Australia to make access to abortion care free, no matter who wins the November election, with the Coalition matching Labor’s promise just hours after it was announced as it attempts to neutralise the issue. The opposition leader, Jess Wilson, on Thursday...

Exclusive: Out-of-pocket costs for abortion care to be covered regardless of who wins November election as Jess Wilson says Liberals and Nationals ‘will not allow Labor to play politics on this issue’

Victorian will become the first state in Australia to make access to abortion care free, no matter who wins the November election, with the Coalition matching Labor’s promise just hours after it was announced as it attempts to neutralise the issue.

The opposition leader, Jess Wilson, on Thursday afternoon told Guardian Australia a Liberal National Coalition government would match Labor’s commitment to cover out-pocket-costs for abortion care up to 16 weeks’ gestation. This would include GP and specialist consultations, scans, tests or medication, which can quickly add up to more than $1,000.

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Victoria (LOCATION) Jess Wilson (PERSON) Liberals (ORG) Labor (ORG) Australia (LOCATION) Guardian Australia (ORG) Liberal National Coalition (ORG) GP (ORG)
Originally published by The Guardian World Read original →

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