Labor pledges fertility treatment rebates as SA state election nears
Peter Malinauskas has announced a pledge for IVF rebates, if Labor is re-elected in March. (ABC News)
In short:
South Australia's Labor government has made an election pledge offering $2,000 rebates to help cover out-of-pocket fertility treatment costs.
The rebate would be available for two cycles of IVF.
What's next?
If re-elected, the government says the rebates would become available from July.
South Australian women and families could access a $2,000 rebate to help cover out-of-pocket fertility treatment costs, Premier Peter Malinauskas has pledged ahead of the upcoming state election.
He said that, if re-elected in March, a Labor government would cover up to $4,000 — $2,000 per cycle for two cycles — along with a $250 rebate for pre-IVF fertility testing.
"This is about making IVF more accessible and more affordable for more South Australian families so they can realise their ambition to have children," he said.
"We know that with IVF, it often takes more than one cycle.
"So, I think it's only fair and reasonable that if we do this, we do it properly, and fund at least two cycles."
Mr Malinauskas made the announcement while flanked by two mothers and their five children — each of whom was born because of "the magnificence of IVF".
Peter Malinauskas says more families should have access to IVF. (ABC News)
He said one in six Australian couples trying to fall pregnant were affected by infertility.
"No young couple should be denied the opportunity to get access to IVF simply because they cannot afford it.
"They shouldn't be deprived it because it's expensive."
Mother-of-two Ellie Simmons said she and her husband made numerous sacrifices and spent about $30,000 to have both of their sons, Harvey, 3, and Hudson, 7 months.
"We were lucky enough to have two beautiful children through IVF," she said.
"It wasn't our first round that worked and it was a lot of money."
Ellie Simmons says she and her husband spent about $30,000 to have both of their sons via IVF. (ABC News)
She hoped the scheme would allow other families to experience the same joy.
"There's many people out there that wouldn't get to experience [having] beautiful children because of their financial income and situation," she said.
Mr Malinauskas said the government would spend $18.5 million over four years to deliver the rebate scheme.
He said the proposal was similar, but more generous, than the "quite restrictive" scheme offered in New South Wales.
Under the plan, the SA scheme would be available from July 1, 2026 to families earning $180,000 or less, and the IVF costs must be incurred from a registered provider.
The premier said a population report released last week, which revealed the country's declining birthrate, was concerning.
"If we have an aspiration to see more young South Australians born in South Australia, we've got to support their parents, or prospective parents, to be able to do that," he said.
Kate Martin has welcomed the IVF rebate pledge. (ABC News)
Kate Martin from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) said the proposed rebate scheme was "well and truly" welcomed.
"The cost of accessing fertility treatment can place a financial and emotional burden on women and families," Dr Martin said.
"Fertility treatment is health care and should be accessible by all."
Opposition Leader Ashton Hurn said Labor's IVF pledge was a "good move" which could help families afford IVF, but said the eligibility criteria should be broadened.
"Whilst we think this is a good initiative … if you look at how it's implemented in practice, there will be a number of people who would miss out," she said.
"This goes to the heart of making sure that we have got an affordable South Australia.
"To grow our state, we do need to remove the financial barriers when it comes to accessing these types of supported fertility treatments too."