2024-07-19
Google’s updated health and medicines policy threatens to limit or stop Australian healthcare providers from advertising their abortion and contraception services unless they are certified by a US based, for-profit company.
Lines attributable to Greens Leader in the Senate and spokesperson for women, Senator Larissa Waters
“Google has a bad habit of overstepping when it comes to Australia’s healthcare regulations. Unlike in the US, abortion and contraception is legal, telehealth is a vital part of our healthcare system, and people don’t need more barriers to information about either.
“Access to safe, legal abortion remains a postcode lottery in Australia, with different rules, costs and availability depending on where you live. The last thing we need in Australia is a US based company regulating our access to information about reproductive healthcare.
“MSI Australia suggests the cost to their organisation would be more than $4700 in registration and annual fees. That money would be much better spent supporting people to access essential reproductive healthcare.
“Abortion and contraception are legal, basic healthcare services. They should be safe, accessible and freely available everywhere in Australia, including on Google.”