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Equal and safe access to abortions

ACT Labor has always led the nation in abortion law reform and healthcare accessibility. We're committed to ensuring everyone can access the care they need without fear of judgement or stigma.

In 2002,  the ACT Labor Government was the first in Australia to fully decriminalise abortion. In 2016 we were the first to introduce protest free zones in front of abortion clinics.  

Last year Labor made abortions free - including for people without a medicare card. Because we believe the right to choose shouldn’t depend on your ability to pay.

Since then, we’ve expanded access to no-cost abortions by working with local health providers and expanding the scope of practice for health workers. We’ve also passed new laws to better protect the rights of people seeking an abortion. 

It’s nation-leading healthcare - and it’s happening right here in Canberra.

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Free period products

Period products are a necessity, not a luxury. That’s why the ACT Labor Government is committed to providing free period products for all Canberrans that need them. 

In 2023, the ACT became the first jurisdiction in Australia to legislate the provision of free period products into law. And now, we’re delivering on that commitment. 

Free period products will become available at an increasing number of public locations right across the ACT including in all our ACT public schools.

Eliminating period poverty and the stigma around periods isn’t something we’re afraid to tackle, and we’re getting on with the job of just that.

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Female representation and equal pay 

Women should be paid the same as men. It's that simple.

On average across Australia, for every $1 on average a man makes, women earn 78c. 

Here in our own ACT Public Service, we’ve been working hard for years to promote gender equality by supporting women into leadership, improving leave provisions including parental leave, domestic violence leave and gender reassignment leave, and supporting more flexible working arrangements. 

In fact, all these measures have helped us reduce the gender pay gap to virtually 0. 

That’s what a Labor Government looks like. 

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Supporting women into careers

ACT Labor is committed to improving gender equity for women in the construction industry. 

As a sign of this commitment, the new public primary school in Strathnairn - an election commitment scheduled for completion in 2025 - will be a women-led construction project. 

Labor Government actively prioritises the increased participation of women on construction sites and aims to promote more inclusive, gender-diverse hiring practices.

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