Religious-affiliated Victorian public hospitals would be banned from directing staff not to perform abortions on conscientious grounds under a new legislative push.
Reason Party leader and crossbench MP Fiona Patten has unveiled the Health Legislation Amendment (Conscientious Objection) Bill on Monday as state parliament resumes sitting after the winter break.
Under the bill, to be introduced to parliament on Wednesday, publicly funded denominational hospitals would be legally obliged to provide advice and services for medical and surgical abortions, voluntary assisted dying and contraception.
