WA abortion bill a historic opportunity to improve reproductive health outcomes

8 Aug 2023

The Western Australian Parliament has a unique opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to the health and equality of women and all people who experience pregnancy by bringing the state’s outdated abortion laws into line with other Australian states and territories.

Today debate will begin on the Cook Government’s n the Lower House. If it passes, the proposed laws will see abortion treated like healthcare in law, including by:

Continued: https://www.hrlc.org.au/news/2023/8/8/wa-abortion-bill-historic-opportunity

08.08.2023

News

abortion law reform

Abortion Legislation Reform Bill 2023

Adrianne Walters

Human Rights Law Centre

WA must fully decriminalise abortion and reform outdated laws

Dec 20, 2022
Human Rights Law Centre

Western Australia has a unique opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to the health and equality of women and all people who experience pregnancy by reforming the state’s outdated abortion laws, the Human Rights Law Centre have told the McGowan Government in a submission to inform the government's drafting of new abortion laws.

While the McGowan Government introduced safe access zones laws in 2021, Western Australia is the only state yet to fully decriminalise abortion. Abortion is legal in most circumstances in Western Australia. However, the regulation of abortion care through an exception in the criminal law has a stigmatising and chilling effect on service provision and patient care.

Continued: https://www.hrlc.org.au/news/2022/12/20/wa-must-fully-decriminalise-abortion-and-reform-outdated-laws

20.12.2022

Human Rights Law Centre

WA looks ahead to modernised laws as ‘historic’ abortion legislation passes

15 August 2021
By Naomi Neilson

In what has been praised as a “landmark achievement” by human rights lawyers, the Western Australian government has brought its legislation in line with the rest of Australia by passing a bill to create protective zones around abortion services. However, the state still has a long way to go to decriminalise and modernise its laws.

Western Australia has become the last state or territory in Australia to pass the Public Health Amendment (Safe Access Zones) Bill 2021 and has finally unified the country’s protective zones around abortion services. Within these zones, obstructive and harassing behaviour targeted at patients and staff is prohibited.

Continued: https://www.lawyersweekly.com.au/biglaw/32196-wa-looks-ahead-to-modernised-laws-as-historic-abortion-legislation-passes

Harassment outside abortion services now banned across Australia with historic passing of safe access zone laws in WA

Human Rights Law Centre
Aug 12, 2021

The safety and privacy of people seeking reproductive healthcare will now be protected in law across Australia after the Western Australian Parliament passed legislation to create safe access zones around abortion services.

Western Australia is the last state or territory in Australia to enact safe access zone laws.

Continued: https://www.hrlc.org.au/news/2021/8/10/harassment-abortion-banned-australia-safe-access-zone

12.08.2021

Adrianne Walters

anti-choice harassment

anti-choice protesters

buffer zones

Human Rights Law Centre

Public Health Amendment (Safe Access Zones) Bill 2021

safe access zones

Abortion clinic protests banned in WA as safe access zones bill approved to protect women

By Rhiannon Shine
Aug 12, 2021

Protesting outside abortion clinics will no longer be allowed in any Australian jurisdiction, after laws to introduce safe access zones in Western Australia passed State Parliament.

The Public Health Amendment (Safe Access Zones) Bill 2021 passed the Labor-dominated Legislative Council today.

Continued: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-08-12/wa-abortion-clinic-protests-banned-under-safe-access-zones-bill/100366664

Australia – Abortion win in High Court

Abortion win in High Court
April 10, 2019

Laws that promote the safety, dignity and privacy of women seeking reproductive healthcare have been upheld by the High Court of Australia.

The High Court today rejected a challenge by two anti-abortionists to the validity of Victoria and Tasmania’s safe access zone laws. The laws put an end to the harmful and distressing harassment and intimidation of women outside reproductive health clinics.

Continued: https://www.hrlc.org.au/news/2019/4/10/abortion-win-in-high-court

Australia – Anti-abortion activists lose bid to overturn clinic safe access zones in two states

Anti-abortion activists lose bid to overturn clinic safe access zones in two states
High court throws out cases from anti-abortion campaigners in Victoria and Tasmania

Melissa Davey
Wed 10 Apr 2019

Safe access zone laws in Victoria and Tasmania preventing anti-abortion protesters from harassing women seeking medical treatment will stay, following a judgment delivered by the high court on Wednesday.

The court threw out the cases brought by anti-abortion campaigners Kathleen Clubb and Graham Preston in a comprehensive, 200-page decision.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/apr/10/anti-abortion-activists-lose-bid-to-overturn-clinic-safe-access-zones-in-two-states

Protesters banned from Queensland abortion clinics from today

Protesters banned from Queensland abortion clinics from today

By Felicity Caldwell
3 December 2018

Queensland women seeking a pregnancy termination will be shielded from protesters from Monday, as abortion law reform comes into effect.

From Monday, abortion will no longer be a crime and women will be able to have a termination on request up to 22 weeks, or after that gestation with consent from two doctors.

Continued: https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/politics/queensland/protesters-banned-from-queensland-abortion-clinics-from-today-20181203-p50jt5.html

Abortion clinic safe-access zones face challenge in Australia’s high court

Abortion clinic safe-access zones face challenge in Australia's high court
Campaigners challenging Victorian and Tasmanian laws argue they stifle free speech

Melissa Davey
Mon 8 Oct 2018

The validity of the safe-access-zone laws in Victoria and Tasmania that prevent anti-abortion protesters from harassing women seeking medical treatment will be challenged before the high court on Tuesday.

The Victorian case has been brought by anti-abortion campaigner Kathleen Clubb, who was the first person to be convicted of breaking Victoria’s safe-access-zone laws in 2016. The laws mean anti-abortion protesters cannot protest within 150m of health and fertility clinics. Clubb was fined $5,000 for communicating about abortion to a woman attending an East Melbourne medical clinic. Clubb’s conduct was found to be “reasonably likely to cause distress or anxiety”.

continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/oct/09/abortion-clinic-safe-access-zones-face-challenge-in-australias-high-court

Australia – Abortion advocates urge NSW to ‘take next step’ after new safe access laws

Abortion advocates urge NSW to 'take next step' after new safe access laws
Reproductive rights activists have praised the passing of the new ‘safe access abortion zone’ laws in New South Wales, but say they would like to see abortion completely decriminalised.

June 8, 2018
By Evan Young

After a mammoth sitting which saw testimony from over 40 MPs, the New South Wales parliament passed the controversial amendment of the Public Health Act early Friday morning, 61 votes to 18.

The new law, supported by NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian, makes it illegal to communicate, film or intimidate a woman inside of a 150-metre radius of an abortion clinic.

Continued: https://www.sbs.com.au/news/abortion-advocates-urge-nsw-to-take-next-step-after-new-safe-access-laws