Today, 40 health and medical organisations have called on all candidates and political parties running in the 2025 federal election to publicly affirm their support for access to abortion as part of an ongoing commitment to essential healthcare.

Despite healthcare being a major focus in this election campaign, abortion has largely been absent from the national conversation. Voters deserve to know where their candidates stand on improving access to abortion.

The imminent federal election presents an unmissable opportunity for candidates seeking the votes of Australians to clearly and publicly commit to the health and wellbeing of Australian women.

The Commonwealth holds critical levers – including the Medicare Benefits Schedule and workforce support. National leadership is required to ensure abortion is part of mainstream healthcare.

All governments must work together to ensure that all people who seek an abortion can access the care they need.

The joint statement has five key asks to strengthen access to abortion, and signatories to the statement call on all political parties and candidates to commit to ensuring affordable, accessible abortion care by:

• demonstrating national leadership to affirm abortion as essential healthcare
• ensuring the Medicare Benefits Schedule includes appropriate remuneration for healthcare providers to deliver affordable care
• supporting workforce capacity building by working with medical and professional colleges providing sexual, reproductive and maternal healthcare training
• ensuring public hospitals provide abortion care as part of standard, comprehensive reproductive health services
• working with state and territory governments to implement all 36 recommendations from the Senate Inquiry into universal access to reproductive healthcare

Australia has made important progress on reproductive rights, but that progress is not guaranteed. The rise of the global anti-rights movement is threatening reproductive rights locally. Access to abortion must be protected and prioritised as part of national health policy.

For more information about what the 40 signatories to the statement on abortion care are demanding, please see the statement: Federal Election Joint Statement

Quotes attributable to Dr Anita Muñoz , Chair, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (Victoria):

“Abortion services are an essential part of healthcare, and we must ensure timely, safe, and affordable access for everyone who needs it across Australia.

The RACGP applauded the bipartisan commitment to funding more contraceptive choices for women, including new generation pills and IUDs.

We need to see the same support from all political parties to ensure affordable and accessible abortion care.”

Quotes attributable to Annie Butler, Federal Secretary, Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF):

“This election, Australian women have the right to know if federal candidates will commit to improving women’s access to abortion.

Already, the Albanese Government has committed to a landmark, $500 million women’s health package for cheaper and more equitable access to contraception, endometriosis and menopause treatments – and we need better access to abortion to be included in ongoing investments in women’s health.

We believe it’s crucial that women across Australia have access to abortion as essential healthcare.”

Quotes attributable to Sally Hasler, Chief Executive Officer, Women’s Health Victoria:

“Abortion is essential healthcare and must be available to anyone who needs it.

We know that abortion continues to be stigmatised and this leads to significant barriers to access – especially if you are on a low income, or live in a regional area. In Victoria alone, around two-thirds of local government areas have no surgical abortion providers.

If those candidates seeking your votes in this election are serious about providing universal healthcare for all Australians, then they must commit to ensuring safe, affordable, accessible abortion care.”

For more information or to arrange interviews with spokespeople, please contact:

• Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (Victoria) - Stuart Winthrope, 0460 777 479 or Stuart.Winthrope@racgp.org.au

• Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation - Richard Lenarduzzi, 0411 254 390 or richard@premiercomms.com.au

• Women’s Health Victoria - Carol Nichols, 0407 852 904 or carol.nichols@whv.org.au