The Health Consumers’ Council of WA unequivocally stands for the rights of all people to access legal, safe, timely and compassionate abortion care as essential healthcare.
Today we join many people and organisations across Australia and add our signature to the Australia position statement on the Roe v Wade decision in the US published by Children by Choice.
We welcome the statement by the WA Minister for Health in support of reproductive rights and equitable access to abortion for women and people with uteruses across Australia. We support the WA safe access zone legislation that protects the rights of people accessing abortions to do so safely and free from harassment or intimidation.
However, we know that accessing free, high quality, comprehensive abortion care in WA can be difficult for some people. Factors including where someone lives, their financial situation, the availability of clear, accessible and culturally appropriate health information, and the availability and affordability of healthcare, can all impact on someone’s ability to access the care they need. We also know from MSI Australia that First Nations’ peoples, trans and gender diverse peoples, members of migrant and refugee communities, people on temporary visas, and people with disabilities can face additional barriers to abortion care that are further impacted by age, economic status, stigma and discrimination.
We will continue to speak up – alongside our partners in WA – for improved, ongoing, timely and affordable access to these vital health services for all.
Health Consumers’ Council WA provides advocacy support to people accessing health services in WA. See https://www.hconc.org.au/individual-advocacy/