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Victoria will not expand abortion services

Reason Party MP Fiona Patten failed to force through an expansion of abortion services in Victoria.

Reason Party MP Fiona Patten failed to force through an expansion of abortion services in Victoria. Photo: AAP

The Victorian Labor government has voted with conservative MPs to stop the expansion of abortion services and voluntary assisted dying.

The defeated bill would have forced all hospitals which receive funding from the state to offer the procedures, including those with connections to religious organisations.

Reason Party MP Fiona Patten forced a vote on the issue in parliament on Wednesday, after negotiations with the government broke down.

Many health services with religious affiliations rely heavily on their partner institutions for funding and are required to uphold their values.

Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas blasted Ms Patten’s proposals ahead of the vote, saying they would lead to many hospitals losing money.

“We have here in Victoria the most progressive laws in the nation when it comes to ensuring women can access the sexual reproductive services that they need, including access to termination of pregnancy,” she told reporters on Wednesday.

Ms Patten said she was aware of cases when women were denied contraception at certain hospitals, and that some patients do not have a say about where they are treated.

“They can can go to the Mercy or they can be sent to the Women’s; they will get two very different services from two publicly funded hospitals,” she said.

Greens leader Samantha Ratnam expressed her disappointment after the bill was defeated 28-7.

“It is really important we keep these issues on the agenda after the Roe v Wade decision in the US. International events have domestic consequences,” she posted to Twitter, referencing the overturning in the United States of landmark legislation allowing a constitutional right to abortion.

The bill would not have compelled individual doctors to provide the medical procedures.

– AAP

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