Tuesday, 10 September 2024

Ministers statements: women’s health

Mary-Anne THOMAS (Macedon – Leader of the House, Minister for Health, Minister for Health Infrastructure, Minister for Ambulance Services) (14:17): I rise to update the house on the Labor government’s work to improve access to abortion rights right across Victoria. On this side of the house we believe that abortion care is health care. Victoria has the strongest reproductive rights of anywhere in the nation, and that is thanks to the work of successive Labor governments in this place. From decriminalisation to safe access zones and now increased access to care, Victorian women know who to trust when it comes to protecting their reproductive rights.

This term alone we have taken even more decisive action to improve access to care. This includes nine new sexual and reproductive health hubs, new women’s health clinics and a partnership with BreastScreen Victoria to make sexual and reproductive health care available for women right across the state. We have recently removed barriers to prescribing for endorsed midwives, which will improve access to medical termination, and we are expanding access to surgical abortion at public hospitals right across our state.

While the women of Victoria know and understand who they can trust when it comes to protecting their reproductive rights, can the same be said of those on the other side? Does the Leader of the Opposition also believe –

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, ministers statements are not an opportunity to attack the opposition, and it is very, very disappointing that the minister would use this issue to try to play politics.

The SPEAKER: The minister will not attack the opposition in her ministers statement.

Mary-Anne THOMAS: In making my ministers statement I just wanted to make the point very clear that the women of Victoria need to know who they can trust when it comes to protecting their reproductive healthcare rights. What the people of Victoria know –

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Bentleigh, you can leave the chamber for half an hour.

Member for Bentleigh withdrew from chamber.

Emma Kealy: On a point of order, Speaker, as a woman of Victoria I find the minister’s statement exceptionally offensive, and I ask her to withdraw.

The SPEAKER: It is very difficult for me to rule on points of order that require withdrawals when there is no personal attack on a particular member. I advise members to read the standing orders and Rulings from the Chair about imputations and personal reflections. When I make a ruling on this, it will be on the basis that the minister did not refer to any particular member in this house.

James Newbury: On the point of order, Speaker, in previous weeks you have ruled when a Labor member has asked for withdrawal not related to them specifically that the coalition withdraw, but when it comes to us asking for withdrawals you have done the opposite.

The SPEAKER: The Manager of Opposition Business knows not to question my rulings in the house. You can come and see me afterwards in my office.

Mary-Anne THOMAS: Again I make the point that the people of Victoria know that they can trust this Allan Labor government to continue to protect their reproductive healthcare rights – not only that, to expand them. We will not be flip-flopping on this issue. We will not be changing our minds on this issue.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, this ministers statement is an abuse of the standing orders, and I would ask you to sit the minister down.

The SPEAKER: The minister will come back to her ministers statement. I ask you not to attack the opposition.

Mary-Anne THOMAS: I did not actually mention the opposition. I just made the point that it is the Allan Labor government that will always deliver, and we will not flip-flop.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: The member for Bulleen is warned.