One Nation proposes $2,000 baby subsidy in Victoria but says it won’t touch state abortion laws

One Nation, a political party in Victoria, has proposed a $2,000 baby bonus to new parents in the state. This announcement was made a day after the Liberal and Labor parties agreed to cover out-of-pocket costs for abortion care. The party's deputy leader in Victoria, Colleen Harkin, announced the plan on Friday, stating it would remove out-of-pocket costs for pregnant women in the public healthcare system and provide a $2,000 subsidy for private maternity care.

Harkin claimed the policy would cost $136m over four years, though she acknowledged it was an estimate that would vary based on birth rates. Despite the federal Liberal party's national platform pledging to seek opportunities to roll back abortion laws, Harkin affirmed that One Nation would not interfere with Victoria's abortion laws, emphasizing that it is not a focus for the party.

The announcement comes after the Labor party stated it would eliminate out-of-pocket costs for abortion care in Victoria if re-elected in November, costing $30m over four years. The move has prompted opposition from anti-abortion activists who have criticized the Liberals, claiming they are in "lock step with Labor on every vile and evil policy".

However, Women’s Health Victoria welcomed the bipartisan approach to abortion rights, stating that no matter who is elected, Victoria will become the first state to provide abortion-free healthcare. The party also welcomed the announcement of the baby subsidy, describing it as a response to the abortion care announcement, describing it as a false trade-off.