Calls for investigation into anti-abortion activist Joanna Howe’s campaign spending

By national regional health reporter Lucy Barbour and ABC Regional Investigations' Andy Burns

July 2, 2026

It is two days before the South Australian election, and Labor MP Nat Cook is being chased around her pre-poll booth by someone you may have never heard of.

The woman is a fast-rising figure in the anti-abortion movement, and her platform has the backing of some of Australia's most powerful right-wing political figures.

Joanna Howe is determined to see abortion banned across the country, and is leveraging MAGA-style campaigning tactics to try to influence political outcomes. This pre-poll booth during the SA election is ground zero for her street-brawler approach.

Continued: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-07-03/anti-abortion-activist-joanna-howe-political-ads/106835816

NSW guidelines proposed to prevent hospitals from refusing abortion care based on personal beliefs

Lucy Barbour
Dec 11, 2025

Hospital managers and executives would be barred from blocking abortions because of personal beliefs, under new guidelines proposed for public health services across New South Wales.

A draft copy of the "termination of pregnancy policy directive", obtained by the ABC, includes a new section that specifically deals with conscientious objection among those managing and administering health and hospital services.

Continued : https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-12/document-reveals-plan-to-limit-blocking-of-abortions/106091562

11.12.2025

News

Amanda Cohn

belief-based care denial

conscientious objection

MSI Australia

Orange Health Service

Pregnancy Options Care and Support Service

Australia – To put an end to the abortion wars, we need mass struggle

Issue: 187
1st July 2025
Judy McVey

The global surge of attacks on abortion rights has been a wake-up call for pro-choice activists in Australia.1 In June 2022, thousands rallied in solidarity with women in the United States when Roe v Wade was overturned by the US Supreme Court. Many media commentators argued that Australia was different from the US and abortion rights were safe here. After all, between 2002 and 2023, regional governments around the country removed abortion from criminal laws. Decriminalisation reflected community-wide popularity for legal abortion. Polls show that more than 80 percent of Australians believe “abortion should be legal and available in Australia in all circumstances”; anti-abortion sentiment is generally less than 10 percent.2

However, the bigots do not simply acknowledge defeat and disappear. Anti-abortionists inside and outside mainstream parties in Australia were emboldened by the rise of the far right and anti-abortion politics in the US and Europe.

Continued: https://isj.org.uk/abortion-wars-australia/

UK – State and federal MPs describe death threats and vile abuse in wake of Joanna Howe’s anti-abortion campaign

Representatives around the country say third parties sent abusive messages after they were targeted for their stance on abortion

Tory Shepherd
Wed 21 May 2025

State and federal MPs around the country say they and their staff have received death threats from third parties amid controversy generated by the self-described “assertiveness” of the anti-abortion activist Joanna Howe.

Howe, an expert in migration law at the University of Adelaide, has campaigned for anti-abortion laws in various state parliaments, and this month organised a rally – attended by the former prime minister Tony Abbott – against NSW reforms to improve access to services. She said on social media people “need to be hysterical” about the bill, which represented what she called “an extreme, radical takeover of our country”.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/21/state-and-federal-mps-describe-death-threats-and-vile-abuse-in-wake-of-joanna-howes-anti-abortion-campaign-ntwnfb

Abortion pills to be easier to access after Greens bill passes in NSW despite opposition from Tony Abbott
Legislation brings state in line with others, as opposition leader says he refuses to cave to ‘Americanisation of NSW politics’ after grassroots campaign

Natasha May
Wed 14 May

New South Wales women will have easier access to abortion pills after the state passed a bill allowing nurse practitioners and registered midwives to prescribe the medication.

The bill – which aims to improve access to healthcare for women in rural and regional areas – passed the lower house on Wednesday, despite vocal opposition including by former prime minister Tony Abbott.

Continued; https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/14/nsw-medical-abortion-access-bill-passes-both-houses-ntwnfb

Australia – NSW politicians will vote on abortion this week. Here’s what could be changing

By Nick Dole
May 12, 2025

A bill to expand abortion services in New South Wales will face a crucial vote in the lower house this week.

While the most controversial aspects of the bill were stripped out in the upper house last week, Labor and Coalition MPs will still be granted a conscience vote on what Premier Chris Minns says is a "vexed issue".

What's being proposed？ The bill, introduced by upper house Greens MP Amanda Cohn, aims to expand women's access to abortion by allowing nurse practitioners to supply medication to terminate pregnancies, up to nine weeks' gestation.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-13/nsw-politicians-to-vote-changes-abortion-bill-what-are-they/105282854

12.05.2025

midwives and abortion

nurse practitioners and abortion

Australia – Liberal leader refuses to show hand on contentious abortion bill

By Michael McGowan
May 12, 2025

NSW Opposition Leader Mark Speakman is refusing to say whether he will back legislation to amend the state’s abortion laws so experienced nurses and midwives can prescribe medical terminations up to nine weeks’ gestation.

The state’s lower house will this week vote on a bill put forward by NSW Greens MP Amanda Cohn to widen abortion access, after a NSW Health review found so-called “abortion deserts” across the state were undermining the landmark 2019 legislation which decriminalised it.

Continued: https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/liberal-leader-refuses-to-show-hand-on-contentious-abortion-bill-20250511-p5ly8d.html

12.05.2025

Australia – Pressure mounts for NSW Health to improve abortion access statewide

By Joanna Woodburn, ABC Central West
March 16, 2025

New South Wales Health is refusing to detail what work it is doing to improve access to abortion services at public hospitals across the state.

The department is reviewing its policies governing termination of pregnancy, after its own report on the state's current abortion laws specifically recommended that ways to balance the rights of conscientiously objecting health practitioners with a woman's entitlement to receive timely care be examined.

Continued: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-17/pressure-on-nsw-health-to-improve-abortion-access/105032522

16.03.2025

News

Abortion Law Reform Act 2019

Australia – New NSW bill that would allow nurses and midwives to prescribe abortions aims to address rural access

17 February 2025
Oliver Jacques

A new bill has been introduced into NSW parliament that would allow nurses and midwives to prescribe abortions.

The legislation has been tabled by Albury-based Greens MP and former GP Amanda Cohn, who has long campaigned for greater access to pregnancy termination.

“The bill is about making sure people can access abortion services when and where they need them, across NSW,” she said.

Continued: https://regionriverina.com.au/new-nsw-bill-that-would-allow-nurses-and-midwives-to-prescribe-abortions-aims-to-address-rural-access/83487/

17.02.2025

News

Amanda Cohn

midwives and abortion

Australia – NSW Health apologises to women affected by limited abortion services, following hospital bans in Queanbeyan and Orange

Lucy Barbour
Dec 2, 2024

The New South Wales health secretary has apologised to women who have been unable to access abortion care throughout the state.

It comes after an ABC investigation revealed abortions for non-medical reasons were banned at Orange Hospital and surgical abortions were scrapped at Queanbeyan Hospital.

Continued: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-02/health-secretary-apologises-to-women-affected-by-abortion-bans/104672562

02.12.2024