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 – Albury doctor’s bill to expand abortion access in NSW passes Upper House but watered down by major parties

10 May 2025
Oliver Jacques

A bill to expand abortion access in NSW has passed the Upper House, but key provisions have been removed.

Dr Amanda Cohn, an Albury-based GP and Greens MP, introduced legislation to address the fact that abortion was still unavailable in much of the state, six years after the procedure was decriminalised.

A Region investigation has found that pregnancy termination is very difficult to access in rural areas such as the Riverina, with some women having to travel up to four hours and cross state borders into the ACT and Victoria to have the procedure.

Continued: https://regionriverina.com.au/albury-doctors-bill-to-expand-abortion-access-in-nsw-passes-upper-house-but-watered-down-by-major-parties/91781/

10.05.2025

midwives and abortion

nurse practitioners and abortion

Australia – Tony Abbott calls new bill to improve abortion care access an ‘assault on our rights’

by Brianna Boecker
May 7, 2025

Just days after the Liberal party’s shattering election defeat, former prime minister Tony Abbott appeared at an anti-abortion rally against a Greens bill to address barriers to abortion care in New South Wales.

Speaking to the crowd outside the NSW parliament, Abbott condemned the bill, describing it as an “assault on our fundamental rights and freedoms”.

“Shame on the Minns government for engaging in this extremist conspiracy with the Greens,” Abbott said.

Continued: https://womensagenda.com.au/politics/local/tony-abbott-calls-new-bill-to-improve-abortion-care-access-an-assault-on-our-rights/

07.05.2025

News

Abortion Law Reform Act 2019

belief-based care denial

conscientious objection

Australia – NSW Greens introduce abortion access bill

Pip Hinman
February 24, 2025

Following recommendations from New South Wales Health on abortion as health care, Greens MLC Dr Amanda Cohn has introduced a bill which, if passed, would significantly expand access to abortion services across the state.

According to Family Planning Australia (FPA), almost one in three NSW local government areas do not have a doctor trained to provide medical abortions. Its December report, Use of Medical Abortion Services in NSW, Australia Between 2018–2022, found that women in regional and rural NSW seek medical abortion at more than double the rate of women living in the city.

Continued: https://www.greenleft.org.au/content/nsw-greens-introduce-abortion-access-bill

24.02.2025