As One Nation rises, Victorian Labor has promised to make abortions free. Is the timing pure politics?
Victorian Labor has pledged $30 million to make abortions free in the state, a move analysts suggest is a strategic political maneuver ahead of the upcoming election. The policy aims to counter potential rollbacks of reproductive rights as the One Nation party gains influence.
Why it matters
The announcement highlights the use of reproductive healthcare as a wedge issue in Australian state politics, reflecting broader global debates on abortion access.
Pauline Hanson (centre) and One Nation’s Victorian leader Warren Pickering (right). Hanson has said she is not against abortion in the first trimester, but the party’s national policy says it will ‘seek every opportunity to roll back brutal and extreme abortion law’. Photograph: Joel Carrett/AAP Pauline Hanson (centre) and One Nation’s Victorian leader Warren Pickering (right). Hanson has said she is not against abortion in the first trimester, but the party’s national policy says it will ‘seek every opportunity to roll back brutal and extreme abortion law’. Photograph: Joel Carrett/AAP Victoria state election 2026 Analysis As One Nation rises, Victorian Labor has promised to make abortions free. Is the timing pure politics? Benita Kolovos Facing the prospect of election defeat, Labor is hoping to make abortion a defining issue as the Liberals attempt to stave off claims they would oversee a rollback
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