One Nation proposes $2,000 maternity payment in Victoria
One Nation in Victoria has proposed removing out-of-pocket costs for pregnant women in the public healthcare system and paying $2,000 to new parents who use private maternity care. The Victorian deputy leader of One Nation, Colleen Harkin, said the maternity proposal would cost $136 million over four years. The Guardian
The $2,000 payment for private care would be a one-off payment. It is intended to alleviate costs associated with scans and tests. Neos Kosmos
Harkin said One Nation "will not touch the abortion laws" in Victoria and has no state abortion policy. At the federal level, One Nation's national platform pledges to "seek every opportunity to roll back brutal and extreme abortion law". The Guardian
The maternity proposal came a day after Labor and the Liberals both agreed to cover out-of-pocket costs for abortion care in Victoria. Labor announced it would eliminate out-of-pocket costs for abortion care if re-elected in November, at a cost of $30 million over four years. Under Labor's plan, private providers would be paid to deliver medical and surgical abortions up to 16 weeks' gestation.
Victorian opposition leader Jess Wilson said the Coalition would match Labor's plan to cover out-of-pocket costs for abortion care and the travel subsidy.
