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/

Improving access to medical abortion in Australian primary care

Primary care providers play an integral part in medical abortion access, but many barriers are preventing uptake of medical abortion provision.

Annika Howells
Issue 25 / 30 June 2025

Access to safe and affordable abortion is essential health care and a human right.

Medical abortion — via administration of the combined mifepristone–misoprostol regimen (MS-2 Step) — is becoming more accessible, thanks to increased access via telehealth models and subsidisation in the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

However, medical abortion is still not widely available in primary care, and geographic and financial barriers remain.

Continued: https://insightplus.mja.com.au/2025/25/improving-access-to-medical-abortion-in-australian-primary-care/

30.06.2025

Commentary

belief-based care denial

conscientious objection

Dr Greta Skahill

medication abortion

mifepristone and misoprostol

MS-2 Step

primary care providers and abortion

Australia – Dollars, distance and political power: Inside the barriers to abortion access

By national regional affairs reporter Lucy Barbour and Lucy Sweeney

May 31, 2025

Every week, Australians seeking a legal form of health care are forced to traverse their home states and territories — sometimes crossing borders — to access an abortion.

Depending on where someone lives, and how far into the pregnancy they are, the path to this time-critical procedure can be obstructed by hurdles that amplify fear, trauma and financial disadvantage.

Continued: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06-01/abortion-access-in-australia-financial-and-regional-disadvantage/105291406

Australia – ‘We must be alert to complacency’: inside Victoria’s push to extend abortion access

The state has increased availability of medical and surgical abortions – but a recent symposium has heard affordability and some doctors’ reluctance are halting progress

Benita Kolovos, Victorian state correspondent
Sat 3 May 2025

On a grey Monday morning outside the State Library in Melbourne’s CBD, there’s little to suggest anything out of the ordinary – no protests, no placards, no media. But stream of women – and a few men – are making their way inside for what is, in fact, a landmark event.

“How extraordinary it is,” says former Victorian health minister and MC Jill Hennessy, “to come to a symposium about abortion as healthcare in the state of Victoria, [and] that this isn’t some secret meeting held down in an underground tunnel where women plot to ensure our health rights are recognised.”

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/may/04/victoria-abortion-access

Australia- Expansion of medical abortion prescribers to be considered by NSW government

By Lani Oataway, ABC Central West
Feb 9, 2025

A New South Wales Health review of abortion legislation has recommended the government consider changing the law to allow endorsed midwives and nurse practitioners to prescribe medicine for early terminations.

It would mean at least 900 more health practitioners across the state could prescribe MS-2 Step — a two-part medication that stops pregnancy up to 63 days after a menstrual period — aside from doctors.

Continued: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-10/medical-abortion-expansion-recommendation-nurse-practitioners/104909264

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

Australia – Orange Hospital directs staff to no longer provide abortions to patients without ‘early pregnancy complications’

Exclusive by national regional affairs reporter Lucy Barbour
Thursday 7 November

An explicit ban on abortions for non-medical reasons has been laid down by the executive of a regional New South Wales public hospital, the ABC can reveal.

A leaked document shows that staff at Orange Health Service in Central West NSW can no longer provide abortions for patients with "no identified pregnancy complications".

Continued: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-11-08/orange-hospital-directs-staff-to-stop-providing-some-abortions/104537862

Abortion is legal in Australia, but doctors say an ‘unspoken ban’ is robbing women in regional and rural areas of the right to choose

By Lucy Barbour, with illustrations by Emma Machan
Tuesday 29 October

A mother of two is browsing the racks of kids' clothing to pass time before her scheduled surgery, when she receives the call that almost breaks her.

"I'm really sorry, but we can't do the procedure today," an apologetic voice tells her.

Her lips tremble as she puts a hand to her mouth, struggling to take in the information. She hangs up the phone and stops still, frozen in shock.

Continued: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-30/abortion-access-regional-australia-denying-women-health-care/104387416

Australia – Will abortion rights be wound back in Queensland if the LNP wins the election?

The Liberal National party were broadly against legalising abortion when it was passed Labor in 2018, but leader David Crisafulli has vowed to maintain the status quo

Andrew Messenger
Mon 30 Sep 2024

Debate over Queensland’s abortion laws has made headlines ahead of this week’s official start to the state election campaign.

With pro-choice groups marching in the streets and billboards warning of an end to safe abortion services, Queenslanders might be forgiven for wondering if abortion rights are on the ballot on 26 October.

But is the Liberal National party actually planning to change abortion laws if it wins government?

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/sep/30/queensland-state-election-abortion-liberal-national-party-policy-leaders-david-crisafulli

30.09.2024

Queensland abortion law

Queensland Liberal National party

Susanna Damianopoulos

Bodily autonomy: Australian women still face obstacles when seeking abortion services

6 May 2024

In July last year, following a Senate inquiry into universal access to reproductive healthcare, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) removed restrictions on prescribing and dispensing the medical abortion pill MS-2 Step (mifepristone and misoprostol).

As a result, medical practitioners are no longer required to complete mandatory training and registration to provide this service. The lifting of restrictions means “MS-2 Step can now be prescribed by any healthcare practitioner with appropriate qualifications and training, without the need for certification”.

Continued: https://lens.monash.edu/@medicine-health/2024/05/06/1386674/bodily-autonomy-australian-women-still-face-obstacles-when-seeking-abortion-services