• No sign termination services will be re-established this year
• Hodgman too weak to act against desperate, conservative Minister
• Tasmanian women continue to be forced to travel interstate
Almost 11 months after the last clinic in Hobart providing termination services closed its doors, the Hodgman Liberal Government’s broken promise on new services continues to force Tasmanian women interstate.
Health Minister Michael Ferguson gave a commitment that a new provider would be established by October but missed that important promised deadline completely.
On Wednesday Premier Hodgman could provide no information about when new services would be available in Tasmania other than to say he “hoped” they would be established this year.
In addition to lying to Tasmanian women, it’s clear Michael Ferguson has failed to be totally honest with the Premier on this important issue.
The fact is the government has for 314 days now forced women to travel interstate – at huge cost and considerable inconvenience – to access safe and legal services,
This is an appalling betrayal by a Health Minister whose well-versed personal beliefs have clouded his judgement and a Premier who has allowed that to happen.
Why is the Premier so weak that he lets this deceptive failure of a Minister continue in such a crucial job?
