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

Australia – Abortion battles erupt in two states

New legislation in QLD and NSW could impose further hurdles on health practitioners providing medical terminations.

02 June 2026
By Alyssa Talakovski

Dual threats to abortion care have emerged in both QLD and NSW, sparking pushback from GPs and nurses alike.

The Medicines and Poisons (Medicines) Amendment Regulation 2026 would enable more nurses and midwives in Queensland to administer the medical termination pill MS2-Step.

But Katter Australian Party leader Robbie Katter has lodged a disallowance motion against the amendment.

Continued: https://www.medicalrepublic.com.au/abortion-battles-erupt-in-two-states/126176

The fight for abortion rights in Australia is far from over

by Dr Amanda Cohn
May 26, 2026

Abortion is legal in every Australian state and territory, after decades of campaigning. But it wasn’t long ago that I was a doctor living in Albury NSW (where abortion was still in the Crimes Act), and therefore worked across the river in Wodonga Victoria to provide abortion that was both legal and government-funded.

In 2019, abortion was finally, finally decriminalised in NSW.

Many of us who campaigned for that legalisation might have felt like we’d achieved our goal– that the work was done. But Trump’s US is showing us how quickly those hard-fought rights can be lost, and the threat is closer to home than you might think.

Continued: https://womensagenda.com.au/latest/the-fight-for-abortion-rights-in-australia-is-far-from-over/

NSW abortion deserts: just three of 220 public hospitals provide terminations, research finds

Exclusive: All 15 health districts and the state’s health minister refuse to give public information on access to terminations

Melissa Davey, Nick Evershed and Donna Lu
Mon 16 Dec 2024

Just three of New South Wales’ 220 public hospitals are routinely providing abortions, according to research by the University of Sydney. The research, which maps lack of access to abortion in the state, also reveals that a majority of the state’s cities and towns are “abortion deserts”, meaning the nearest service is more than 160km away.

Abortion is basic healthcare that is legal in NSW. Despite the World Health Organization recommending that all public hospitals provide it, uncovering where it is offered, and under what circumstances, is difficult.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/dec/17/nsw-abortion-deserts-just-three-of-220-public-hospitals-provide-terminations-research-finds

16.12.2024

News

abortion deserts

Dr Anna Noonan

Dr Madeleine Belfrage

Family Planning Australia

Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

Australia – Family Planning report reveals a third of NSW local government areas had no doctors providing medical abortions in 2022

Lucy Barbour and Lucy Sweeney
Wed 11 Dec, 2024

When Charlotte (not her real name) asked a doctor in the New South Wales southern highlands for a medical abortion, he ignored her request, gave her a blood test referral and ushered her out of the room.

The decision to terminate her third pregnancy was not one she had made lightly. Her youngest daughter was experiencing behavioural challenges and the entire family was struggling.

She had hoped the GP would provide a prescription for the abortion pills, known as MS-2 Step. Instead, she left with an overwhelming sense of shock and confusion.

Continued: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-12/one-third-nsw-shires-not-providing-medical-abortions/104708208