Accessing an abortion in Australia just got a bit easier

By Frances Vinall
July 7, 2022

SYDNEY — Access to abortion became easier in Australia on Thursday as decriminalization took effect in South Australia state, part of a wave of liberalization that contrasts with recent moves in the United States.

For the most part, abortion is not the subject of polarizing national debate Down Under, as it often is in American politics. But the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade shocked many Australians, leading thousands to attend rallies in support of abortion rights.

Unlocked: https://wapo.st/3uyBtaj
(https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/07/07/australia-abortion-law-roe-v-wade/)

’Historic day for women’ as abortion officially decriminalised in South Australia

Abortion advocates have welcomed the passage of laws to decriminalise the procedure in South Australia.

03/03/2021

South Australia is the latest Australian jurisdiction to formally decriminalise abortion, after the state's upper house ticked off new laws.

The passage of the Termination of Pregnancy Bill on Tuesday came after the lower house in February passed the legislation 29 votes to 15.

Continued: https://www.sbs.com.au/news/historic-day-for-women-as-abortion-officially-decriminalised-in-south-australia

Women who require late-term abortions are being demonised in Australia – again

As South Australia debates a bill to decriminalise abortion, the same misinformation is being peddled

Gina Rushton
Thu 29 Oct 2020

It wouldn’t be a debate about abortion without a flagrant misinformation campaign about terminations after the first trimester.

A bill to decriminalise abortion was this month introduced in South Australia, the last jurisdiction to do so, and opponents of the legislation have already set about claiming if passed it would legalise and in fact encourage “abortion up to birth”, an offensive but ultimately meaningless phrase. It has been the relentless catchphrase of anti-abortion lobbyists, religious leaders and conservative politicians in every single push to modernise abortion laws in this country but it is not uniquely Australian.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/oct/29/women-who-require-late-term-abortions-are-being-demonised-in-australia-again

Australia – Law Reform Institute to consider abortion law reform

Law Reform Institute to consider abortion law reform

26.02.2019
Vickie Chapman MP

South Australia’s independent Law Reform Institute based at Adelaide of University has been asked by the State Government to consider changes to the State’s abortion laws with a view to improve access and modernise the practice in the State and with a view to making abortion a regulated medical procedure under health legislation as opposed to a criminal law issue.

Attorney-General, Vickie Chapman said the move was being undertaken as part of a broader review of abortion laws in South Australia, taking into account the wide views of the community.

Continued: https://premier.sa.gov.au/news/law-reform-institute-to-consider-abortion-law-reform

26.02.2019

South Australia abortion law

SOUTH AUSTRALIA- New abortion bill tabled in South Australia: no qualifications, no upper time limits, no abortion-specific regulations at all

SOUTH AUSTRALIA- New abortion bill tabled in South Australia: no qualifications, no upper time limits, no abortion-specific regulations at all

by International Campaign for Women's Right to Safe Abortion
Dec 17, 2018

The South Australia Abortion Action Coalition (SAAAC), formed in 2016 to campaign for a change in the law, was at the State Parliament on 5 December to hear Tammy Franks of the Greens introduce a bill to decriminalise abortion along with other campaigners for law reform, whose ages spanned from their 20s to their 80s. Anne Levy, one of the MPs who was a member of parliament when South Australia last reformed its law in 1969, was also there to witness the bill being introduced.

SAAAC report that “The bill is exactly what we wanted…. [Franks’] speech set new horizons for what can be said in Australian parliaments about abortion.” SAAAC are optimistic that decriminalisation in South Australia will make a difference to women’s access to abortion services, as there are specific features in the SA law that, once removed, will enable simple and effective change straight away. Broader change, however, they believe will take ongoing work (e.g. getting GPs and community health care to offer early medical abortion in rural and remote areas).

Continued: http://www.safeabortionwomensright.org/south-australia-new-abortion-bill-tabled-in-south-australia-no-qualifications-no-upper-time-limits-no-abortion-specific-regulations-at-all/

Australia – Three better ways to ‘champion babies’ than protesting abortion

Three better ways to 'champion babies' than protesting abortion

By Clementine Ford
24 October 2018

Last week, the Queensland government finally dragged itself into the modern era when it voted to make access to abortion officially legal.

I say "modern era", but of course there are still legislatures all over the country (and the world) that are languishing in a state of regressive, misogynist policies that deny women and others with reproductive capacity the right to determine when, if and under what circumstances they become parents. New South Wales is one of them. Curiously, South Australia is another – for despite abortion being relatively easy to access in that state (and I should know, I had two there), it’s technically still listed on the criminal code.

Continued: https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/health-and-wellness/three-better-ways-to-champion-babies-than-protesting-abortion-20181023-p50bhc.html

Is abortion legal in Australia? It’s complicated

Is abortion legal in Australia? It's complicated

By health reporter Olivia Willis
May 25, 2018

Ireland has just voted on whether to lift the country's controversial ban on abortion.

But in Australia, whether or not abortion is legal depends on where you live — as does the cost and availability of the procedure.

And that's because abortion laws are made by state and territory governments, not the Federal Government.

Continued: http://www.abc.net.au/news/health/2018-05-26/is-abortion-legal-in-australia/9795188