On Friday, 1 August 2025, during estimates hearings, I asked the Director General of Queensland Health about access to termination of pregnancy services in Queensland's hospitals.
You can read my question and the responses from the Director General and the Minister below, or in the official Parliamentary record of proceedings here.
Mr BERKMAN: Director-General, in relation to the termination-of-pregnancy services, we have heard this government claim that it supports a woman’s right to choose an abortion in accordance with current law in Queensland, yet publicly funded hospitals like the Mater can still refuse abortions and some contraceptive services. How much public funding will be provided in this financial year to the Mater for maternity services while they continue to refuse to provide other reproductive health care?
Dr Rosengren: I think it is important to acknowledge that the Queensland Health responsibility is to ensure that women have access to the appropriate services, and I am very confident that all women—certainly in the metropolitan region—have access to those services through a variety of different hospitals. I do not have any specific concerns about a lack of capacity or availability of that service to women. With regard to the specific question around explicit funding to Mater for the delivery of women’s health services, with the minister’s permission I will have to take that on notice because I do not have that information at my fingertips.
Mr NICHOLLS: I am happy to advise that the Mater complies with all state and territory regulations in relation to the delivery of services and its funding act. This is the same funding that has been in place for a decade. There is no change to the services. The Mater complies with its obligation. There will be no change to the current funding arrangements for the Mater. We support the Mater in the delivery of its services. Mater provides pathways for people who seek a termination, in accordance with all legislative requirements.