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/

Abortion in Queensland in the 21st century

3 February 2025
Caroline de Costa

It is hoped that the incoming Queensland Government keep Queensland on the path to safe and fully accessible reproductive health care for all women and pregnant people within the public sector.

Throughout the 20th century, abortion remained in the criminal legislation of all Australian states and territories, despite efforts to decriminalise laws and provide safe abortion care that began in the 1960s. Only in the 21st century has Australia seen real change in abortion law: from 2000 to 2024, all jurisdictions have decriminalised abortion. Although much remains to be done, there has been improved provision of safe accessible abortion care, including early medical abortion in many parts of the country, lessening of the stigma long associated with abortion, teaching of medical students and doctors about abortion, and promotion and publication of research around the topic.

Continued: https://insightplus.mja.com.au/2025/4/abortion-in-queensland-in-the-21st-century/

Why we should feel hopeful about our reproductive rights

December 22, 2024
Dr Romy Listo

"We can focus on recent election losses and the way they stigmatise our reproductive bodies and rights. Or we can focus on where the progress is happening, and choose ourselves to be part of the change," writes Dr Romy Listo.

It’s been a difficult few months to be a woman or gender diverse person watching elections being fought and lost on abortion rights.

Continued: https://missingperspectives.com/posts/why-we-should-feel-hopeful-about-our-reproductive-rights/

22.12.2024

Opinion

adrienne maree brown

Australian Council of Trade Unions

Queensland parliament passes ‘unprecedented’ gag on abortion debate

Ambush motion, introduced by David Crisafulli, aimed at preventing potential public disunity in LNP ranks by ensuring MPs won’t be forced into a conscience vote

Andrew Messenger
Tue 10 Dec 2024

The Queensland parliament has been banned from debate on abortion for four years after an ambush motion by the premier, David Crisafulli, in a move labelled “unprecedented”.

The motion also requires any “motion or amendment” seeking to have the house “express its views” on abortion be ruled out of order. Opposition and crossbench MPs labelled the move “extraordinary” and “unprecedented”.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/10/queensland-parliament-passes-unprecedented-gag-on-abortion-debate

10.12.2024

News

David Crisafulli

gag on abortion debate

‘We are not the US’: abortion erodes LNP winning margin

By Kat Wong
October 27 2024

Queensland voters have warned the major political parties not to unwind reproductive rights at the looming federal election.

Liberal National Party leader David Crisafulli claimed victory in the Queensland contest on Saturday night, putting an end to Labor's nine-year reign.

The LNP will likely have a majority, but the win was not the landslide opinion polls had predicted.

Continued: https://www.northweststar.com.au/story/8803002/we-are-not-the-us-abortion-erodes-lnp-winning-margin/

27.10.2024

News

David Crisafulli

David Littleproud

Jacinta Nampijinpa Price

Amy-Clare had an abortion. Queensland’s current debate around the issue makes her feel like a criminal

The Brisbane woman was told her baby was unlikely to make it to birth. She says an abortion is painful enough without ill-informed political discussion

Donna Lu
Fri 25 Oct 2024

When Brisbane mother Amy-Clare learned she was pregnant a second time, she almost opted not to undertake prenatal genetic testing. “We were really happy – we really wanted that baby,” she recalls.

Because she already had a healthy first child, Amy-Clare was inclined to believe things would go smoothly the second time. But for peace of mind, her partner talked her into getting the expensive test, which screens for chromosomal disorders early in pregnancy.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/oct/26/queensland-election-abortion-policy-lnp-crisafulli

25.10.2024

Australians must keep up the fight for abortion rights, Jacinta Allan warns

Exclusive: Conservative forces pose ‘genuine threats to the protections women have fought for and won’, Victoria’s premier says

Benita Kolovos, Victorian state correspondent
Thu 24 Oct 2024

Jacinta Allan is warning that the battle for abortion rights must continue as conservative forces pose “real and genuine threats to the protections women have fought for and won” amid “frightening” debate in South Australia and Queensland.

Victoria’s Labor premier made her strongest comments to date on abortion in an interview with Guardian Australia, just days before Queenslanders go to the polls in an election that has become dominated by the issue.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/oct/25/jacinta-allan-queensland-election-abortion-policies

24.10.2024

News

David Crisafulli

Jacinta Allan

Jacinta Nampijinpa Price

Abortion is back in the headlines in Australia. The debates in the United States tell us why

October 23, 2024
Prudence Flowers

The 2022 news that the US Supreme Court had overturned Roe v Wade and ended the constitutional right to abortion sent shockwaves around the world.

For Australian opponents of abortion who had long looked to the US for leadership and inspiration, it prompted rejoicing. As a leader of Cherish Life Queensland put it, “if the USA can do it, with God’s help, so can we”.

Continued: https://theconversation.com/abortion-is-back-in-the-headlines-in-australia-the-debates-in-the-united-states-tell-us-why-241778

Unearthed: the interview that reveals answer to abortion question David Crisafulli has dodged more than 132 times

Exclusive: Queensland LNP leader faced questions at leaders’ debate after saying in 2023 he would allow MPs a conscience vote on changes to legislation

Andrew Messenger
Tue 22 Oct 2024

Queensland’s opposition leader, David Crisafulli, told a live audience last year “I don’t believe in late-term abortions” and promised MPs a conscience vote on the issue.

The Liberal National party leader has been dogged by the issue for weeks, refusing to declare his hand on a bill which will be introduced by Katter’s Australian party next parliament, including whether he would vote for it or grant other MPs a conscience vote.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/oct/22/queensland-election-2024-lnp-abortion-policy-david-crisafulli

22.10.2024

Is abortion really on the ballot again in Australia? State politics indicates it could be

By Q+A and RN Breakfast host Patricia Karvelas
Oct 20, 2024

Fierce debates about abortion have been raging in two Australian states during the past few weeks, leaving many scratching their heads wondering why it's suddenly part of Australian political discourse again.

In Australia, all states and territories have decriminalised abortion, but in the United States it's a different matter. Since 2022, 21 states have banned or restricted abortion to lower than the standard set by Roe v Wade, which protected reproductive rights for nearly half a century until it was spectacularly dumped by the Supreme Court.

Continued: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-21/abortion-debate-in-queensland-and-south-australia-politics/104489634