THE HON CATHERINE KING MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND MEDICARE
MEMBER FOR BALLARAT

GED KEARNEY MP
MEMBER FOR BATMAN

Only Labor can deliver the health care that Australian women deserve, with a Shorten Labor Government to reinvest and refocus on women’s health after Turnbull’s cuts and neglect.

Ahead of International Women’s Day, Shadow Health Minister Catherine King and Labor Candidate for Batman Ged Kearney visited Women’s Health in the North in Thornbury today.

Women’s Health In the North works to improve women’s health and wellbeing, including by preventing violence against women, protecting sexual and reproductive rights, and boosting economic participation.

But unfortunately, targeted health and social care for women is all too rare under Malcolm Turnbull.

As a result of Turnbull’s Medicare freeze, women are twice as likely as men to skip seeing a GP because of out-of-pocket costs. They are also much more likely to delay or avoid filling prescriptions and seeing specialists.

The Liberals have also defunded key women’s health groups such as the Australian Women’s Health Network, and threatened others including the Australian Breastfeeding Association. Attacking these small but crucial services while giving big business a $65 billion tax handout shows how out-of-touch Turnbull is.

Turnbull has also failed to lead on important national issues like reproductive choice, with a patchwork of state and territory laws and huge barriers to access for many women.

In contrast, Labor has already made strong investments in women’s health, with a $20 million commitment to breast cancer research at the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute and $12 million for the National Action Plan for Ovarian Cancer Research.

Labor also understands the importance of a holistic approach to women’s health and wellbeing, and is committed to updating and implementing the National Women’s Health Plan – which the Liberals have neglected throughout their five years in office.

Labor created Medicare, and only Labor will ensure women can access the health care they deserve.