Australia – Hastie, Joyce ignite late-term abortion fight over paid leave for stillbirth law

By Natassia Chrysanthos
October 29, 2025

Four Coalition MPs have renewed a debate over “late-term abortions” in federal parliament, raising concern that laws guaranteeing paid leave for parents of stillborn children will be used by mothers whose pregnancies are terminated.

Outspoken MPs Andrew Hastie and Barnaby Joyce aired the issue during debate over “Baby Priya’s Bill” – a proposed amendment to existing laws that would ensure employers can’t cancel paid parental leave because a child is stillborn or dies.

Continued: https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/hastie-joyce-ignite-late-term-abortion-fight-over-paid-leave-for-stillbirth-law-20251029-p5n6c4.html

Australia – Additional funding for abortion access all but ruled out

By political reporter Stephanie Dalzell
Feb 10, 2025

Health Minister Mark Butler has all but ruled out additional federal funding to address unresolved issues about abortion access in public hospitals, insisting the issue remains a matter for the states and territories.

The federal government has announced a $573 million package for women's health, vowing to significantly lift Medicare rebates for long-term contraceptives.

Continued: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-10/butler-rule-out-abortion-access-funding/104919260

10.02.2025

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