Australia – Fear and ignorance should not drive abortion debate

By Aslan Shand
June 12, 2026

I did not think I would need to defend the right to safe abortions again. Abortion is no longer a criminal offence in Australia. There are well-reasoned and effective legal structures around abortions based on healthcare and women’s choice. It is broadly accepted that if you’re pregnant, it’s your decision to have children, or not.

But it appears that is not the case with extremists now proposing a range of ways to reduce women’s choices regarding their lives and reproduction. The overturning of Roe v Wade in the US has continued to embolden anti-abortion activists who are attempting to reduce women’s choices by introducing legislation in several Australian states that lacks factual basis and curtails women’s rights to make their own decisions.

Continued: https://www.echo.net.au/2026/06/fear-and-ignorance-should-not-drive-abortion-debate/

12.06.2026

A shadowy overseas group is trying to influence Australian abortion policy. Who are CitizenGo and what do they want?

CitizenGo is hitching its wagon to Joanna Howe’s crusade, and the former Nationals MP George Christensen is on board

Tory Shepherd
Thu 11 Jun 2026

Among the hand-drawn signs warning of the “evil” of abortion at last week’s Sydney rally were some more professional placards. “The greatest liberty is the right to life,” the blue-and-white posters read, under a small logo for CitizenGo.

CitizenGo will not be a familiar name to many in Australia but in Europe it looms large in the anti-abortion, anti-LGBTQ+ rights world. An offshoot of the ultra-conservative Spanish group HazteOír (Make Yourself Heard), it was founded in Spain in 2013 and claims to have 20 million members across 50 countries.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jun/12/a-shadowy-overseas-group-is-trying-to-influence-australian-abortion-policy-who-are-they-and-what-do-they-want-ntwnfb

Nationals MPs ‘targeted’ over NSW sex-selection abortion ban, MP claims

A Nationals MP targeted over a bill to ban sex-selection abortion has accused campaign organisers of being “politically mischievous”.

Nathan Schmidt
June 8, 2026

A Nationals MLC targeted over a bill to ban sex-selection abortion in NSW has accused campaign organisers of being “politically mischievous” amid a surge in support for One Nation, and that the Bill was a “dog whistle” for debate around “migration and differences of religion”.

Wes Fang took to social media over the weekend to call-out “misinformation” around Libertarian MLC John Ruddick’s abortion Law Reform Amendment (Sex Selection Prohibition) Bill 2025, which is expected to be debated during a conscience vote later this year.

Continued: https://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/politics/nationals-mps-targeted-over-nsw-sexselection-abortion-ban-mp-claims/news-story/0ef45ecf4c99b9b0bbfcc4e8fc50ecbd

08.06.2026

Law Reform Amendment (Sex Selection Prohibition) Bill 2025

One Nation party

sex-selection abortion

Whose choice is it? The unseen side of Australia’s abortion debate

Some pregnant people face harassment and bullying from family members pushing for termination.

6 June 2026
By Rachael Knowles

A political debate around abortion has fired up again in Australia, but some say the issue isn’t just about access – it's about autonomy.

Muktesh Chibber has dedicated her life to supporting migrant women.

The couple and family relationships psychotherapist and mediator, who provides culturally sensitive counselling, says pregnant migrant women face "enormous pressure" from spouses and extended family.

Continued: https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/migrant-women-unheard-in-abortion-debate/2iz4v0ynx

06.06.2026

Family Planning Australia

John Ruddick

Muktesh Chibber

Multicultural Centre for Women's Health

Anti-abortion fight evolves into ‘noxious brew’

By Kat Wong
June 5 2026

Anti-immigrant rhetoric is playing a growing role in the pro-life movement as conservative politicians attempt to revive their attacks on abortion rights.

The debate over reproductive healthcare has returned to the national spotlight after One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce spoke at an anti-abortion rally outside NSW Parliament as his party rides a wave of anti-immigrant sentiment to new polling highs.

While the anti-abortion movement has a long history in Australia, this latest push appears to have a new, racialised tilt.

Continued: https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/9287146/anti-abortion-fight-evolves-into-noxious-brew/

05.06.2026

sex selection abortion

sex-selective abortion

Australia – GPs urged to raise alarm on another abortion restriction bill

By Alyssa Talakovski
05 June 2026

A South Australian upper house MP plans to introduce her third bill in under two years to restrict late-term abortions, but local GPs have an advocacy plan of their own.

Upper House MP Sarah Game, formerly of One Nation, wants to ban abortions after 25 weeks unless necessary to save the mother’s life.

SA-based sexual health GP Dr Clare Keogh warned The Medical Republic the proposal may deter vulnerable patients from seeking care.

Continued; https://www.medicalrepublic.com.au/gps-urged-to-raise-alarm-on-another-abortion-restriction-bill/126296

05.06.2026

One Nation’s lurking attachment to the fringe anti-abortion movement sounds like the start of a horror movie

Australians who don’t want to find themselves victims should read the whole screenplay before accepting the part

Van Badham
Thu 4 Jun 2026

Australia’s right-wing populist One Nation party is enjoying a well-publicised poll bump, so it’s time to talk horror movies. We’ll employ our horror metaphor set before the monster has revealed itself, but as dark forces are growing more manipulative and insidious.

Not getting nearly enough play in the sensationalistic coverage around the conspicuously revived Pauline Hanson project is her party’s closeness to Australia’s fringe anti-abortion movement.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jun/04/one-nation-fringe-anti-abortion-movement-horror-ntwnfb

04.06.2026

Opinion

anti-choice extremism

How common is sex‑selective abortion in Australia, really?

June 4, 2026

New South Wales parliament is debating a bill this week that seeks to ban abortions performed on the basis of fetal sex.

If passed, health practitioners who perform such abortions would face professional misconduct charges and lose indemnity insurance coverage for the procedure.

At first glance, this might appear to be a defensible measure to address a practice that sits uneasily with gender equality.

Continued: https://theconversation.com/how-common-is-sex-selective-abortion-in-australia-really-284437

04.06.2026

Commentary

sex-selective abortion

South Australian Law Reform Institute

Anti-abortion activists are trying to limit access in NSW – and they are just getting started

Obstetricians and gynaecologists say anti sex-selective abortions bill ‘predicated on misinformation’ and ‘underlying aim is to restrict access to abortion’

Tory Shepherd
Wed 3 Jun 2026

The man who wants to ban “sex-selective abortions” is the first person who will tell you it won’t work.

New South Wales Libertarian party MLC John Ruddick has introduced legislation that would see health practitioners sent to prison or fined thousands if they carry out a termination because of the sex of a foetus.

But the experts, the evidence and history show that laws such as these tend to target immigrants, increase stigma and wind back reproductive rights.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jun/03/anti-abortion-activists-are-trying-to-limit-access-in-nsw-and-they-are-just-getting-started

03.06.2026

Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

Ryan Park

sex-selective abortion

Australia- Katter attempts to force discussion on abortion access in Queensland parliament despite ban on debate

By Sarah Richards and Ned Hammond
June 2, 2026

An attempt by Katter's Australian Party (KAP) to dodge a debate ban and revive abortion access discussion has been shot down in state parliament.

The subject became an issue ahead of the last Queensland election in October 2024, when KAP pledged to introduce legislation to repeal abortion laws after the poll.

After winning government, Premier David Crisafulli banned MPs from amending the Termination of Pregnancy Act or debating any motion that allowed the parliament to express a view on the law over the LNP's first term.

Continued; https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-06-02/katters-australian-party-abortion-drug-debate-crisafulli/106750096

02.06.2026