Victorian One Nation Makes Pro-Family Pitch Amid Abortion Policy Row

Pregnant women in one state could have excess hospital costs paid for in a $136 million (US$95 million) One Nation pledge, as the party distances itself from a political storm over reproductive rights.

One Nation’s Victorian families package, unveiled on Oct. 16, vows to remove out-of-pocket costs for pregnant women in the public system.

Expectant mums in the private system would receive a one-off $2,000 payment to alleviate costs associated with scans and tests.

School aged-children would be eligible for a twice yearly $150 sport voucher under the commitment, which has been costed at $136 million across the forward estimates.

“We love people to have families in Victoria, we want them to have more and we want our kids to get out in the fresh air in the Australian way of life and enjoying sport and getting them off their screens,” the party’s deputy state leader Colleen Harkin told reporters.

The family-first commitment follows a Labor pledge on Oct. 15, where the party vowed to make abortion free if it wins an historic fourth term at the November election.

The announcement attracted criticism from female MPs including Opposition Leader Jess Wilson, who accused Labor of playing politics with women’s health care given the timing of the $30 million announcement.

“Labor has had 12 years to improve access to health care but are instead choosing to play politics,” Wilson said.

However, hours later, the Coalition announced it would match the government’s commitment to cover out-of-pocket-costs for abortion care up to 16 weeks’ gestation.

Slamming the timing of Labor’s abortion policy as disgraceful, Harkin accused the party of lying about her party’s stance on the issue after it claimed One Nation had “outlined plans to make criminals out of innocent women seeking reproductive health care.”

“We have no state abortion policy because it is not on our focus whatsoever,” Harkin said.

The former Liberal party member ruled out rolling back state abortion laws, despite One Nation’s state Leader Warren Pickering previously showing support for pro-life causes.

“Our focus is on restoring the economy, restoring Victoria to be a safe and prosperous place for families and business to thrive,” she said.

One Nation’s national website says it would “reduce the gestational limit for abortions.”

The move comes as One Nation remains steady in the polls, with its primary support remaining at 23 percent, according to the latest Resolve Political Monitor, conducted in October and published by Nine newspapers, with the Greens on 15 and independents on nine.

Labor continues to trail the coalition with its primary vote remaining steady at 25 percent, while support for the Coalition has bumped up to 28 percent, with the Greens on 15 and independents on nine.

While the Liberals have consistently rejected the idea of collaborating with One Nation to form government, Harkin said One Nation would “work with anybody to remove Labor.”

By Eleanor Wilson in Melbourne