What is the new abortion bill in NSW – and why is Tony Abbott trying to stop it?

A proposal to improve access to abortion services could soon become law. So what’s in the bill – and why has it caused heated debate?

Natasha May Health reporter
Tue 13 May 2025

New South Wales decriminalised abortion in 2019 – but it’s still inaccessible for many people in the state.

In February, the Greens NSW spokesperson for health, Dr Amanda Cohn, introduced a new bill in the state’s upper house seeking to amend the Abortion Law Reform Act 2019 to improve access to services, particularly in regional and rural parts of the state where there are vast abortion deserts.

The bill’s second and third readings last week prompted heated debate in parliament. It also spilled out on to the steps, with an anti-abortion rally attended by prominent campaigners, including the former prime minister Tony Abbott.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/may/13/what-is-the-new-abortion-bill-nsw-services-law-reform

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

The abortion speech, the student walkout – and the Catholic civil war

Jordan Baker
December 3, 2024

High-profile conservative Catholic lawyers have warned the Australian Catholic University it faces losing its religious designation if it fails to defend the faith as church leaders split with university bosses in the fallout from an anti-abortion speech on campus.

The warning follows a furious, six-page letter to ACU from Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher, who raised concerns about the ambivalence of the university’s commitment to its Catholic identity.

Continued: https://www.smh.com.au/national/the-abortion-speech-the-student-walkout-and-the-catholic-civil-war-20241203-p5kvgq.html

03.12.2024

News

Anthony Fisher

Australian Catholic University

Damien Tudehope

Joe de Bruyn

Martin Daubney

St Thomas More Society

Australia – COVID-19 vaccine: Archbishop Anthony Fisher condemns Oxford vaccine

Australia’s most powerful Catholic Archbishop has penned a letter warning a COVID vaccine presents an “unacceptable ethical dilemma”.

Samantha Maiden
August 24, 2020

Australia’s most powerful Catholic Archbishop Anthony Fisher has sparked outrage after suggesting the COVID-19 vaccine could create an “ethical dilemma” for Catholics who may refuse to take it because it uses a cell line from an aborted foetus in the 1970s.

The Catholic leader has outlined his “disappointment” in correspondence with Prime Minister Scott Morrison that has sparked fears it could encourage Catholics to refuse to take the vaccine on religious grounds.

Continued: https://www.news.com.au/world/coronavirus/australia/covid19-vaccine-archbishop-anthony-fisher-condemns-oxford-vaccine/news-story/7b94e83a5491b6a76964d9bddfcb495d

Australia – Religious leaders’ ethical concerns of vaccine misplaced, expert says

By Matt Bungard
August 24, 2020

Three of Australia's leading religious voices have written to the Prime Minister with their concerns that the COVID-19 vaccine will be "ethically tainted" by aborted fetal cells.

Catholic Archbishop of Sydney Anthony Fisher, Anglican Archbishop of Sydney Glenn Davies and Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Australia Makarios Griniezakis raised concerns about the deal with AstraZeneca that would ensure Australians would be among the first in the world to receive the Oxford University COVID-19 vaccine if human trials are successful.

Continued: https://www.theage.com.au/lifestyle/health-and-wellness/religious-leaders-ethical-concerns-of-vaccine-misplaced-expert-says-20200824-p55otg.html

Abortion decriminalized in Sydney after Australian lawmakers overturn 119-year-old law

Abortion decriminalized in Sydney after Australian lawmakers overturn 119-year-old law

By Julia Hollingsworth, CNN
Thu September 26, 2019

(CNN)Abortion has now been decriminalized in almost all of Australia after the country's most populous state voted to overturn a 119-year-old law.

On Thursday, lawmakers in New South Wales -- which is home to Sydney -- voted to pass a bill that decriminalizes abortion and makes terminations available to people who are less than 22 weeks pregnant.

Continued: https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/26/asia/abortion-australia-decriminalized-intl-hnk/

NSW abortion law reform: Uniting Church breaks religious ranks to back decriminalisation

NSW abortion law reform: Uniting Church breaks religious ranks to back decriminalisation
In open letter to MPs ahead of debate on bill, Reverend Simon Hansford says abortion a health and social issue

Lisa Martin
Sun 4 Aug 2019

The Uniting Church has broken ranks with other religious institutions to throw its support behind decriminalising abortion in New South Wales.

NSW is the only Australian state or territory that has neglected to modernise abortion laws.

Last week a private member’s bill co-sponsored by 15 MPs from across the political divide was introduced to state parliament. It was expected to be debated as soon as Tuesday when parliament sits.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/04/nsw-abortion-law-reform-united-church-breaks-religious-ranks-to-back-decriminalisation

Hundreds rally in NSW over abortion bill

Hundreds rally in NSW over abortion bill

By AAP
Jul 31, 2019

Hundreds of supporters of a bill to decriminalise abortion in NSW have descended on state parliament with many holding signs stating "Our body, our choice" and "No uterus, no opinion".

Darelle Duncan was one of those rallying on Wednesday in favour of the Reproductive Healthcare Reform Bill, which she says will give women the right to control their own lives.

Continued: https://www.9news.com.au/national/hundreds-rally-for-nsw-abortion-bill/4217e2a9-1a2f-4feb-9e89-fac45b412523

Abortion bill to be introduced to NSW Parliament delayed after MPs claim they need more time

Abortion bill to be introduced to NSW Parliament delayed after MPs claim they need more time

By state political reporter Ashleigh Raper
July 30, 2019

The introduction of a bill to decriminalise abortion in New South Wales has been delayed, after a number of Liberal MPs raised concerns there wasn't enough time to consider the legislation.

Leader of the House, Andrew Constance, this morning confirmed the bill would be introduced today and debated this week, but by this afternoon that was no longer the case.

Continued: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-07-30/abortion-bill-introduced-to-nsw-government/11365482

NSW abortion decriminalisation delayed after conservatives resist

NSW abortion decriminalisation delayed after conservatives resist
Bill with cross-party support was due to be introduced on Tuesday, but Coalition conservatives complain it has been rushed

Michael McGowan
Tue 30 Jul 2019

A bill to decriminalise abortion in New South Wales has been delayed by a week after resistance from the conservative wing of the Coalition government.

The historic bill, co-sponsored by 15 MPs from across the political divide, had been due to be introduced into the parliament on Tuesday before being debated this week.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/30/nsw-abortion-decriminalisation-delayed-after-conservatives-resist