NSW guidelines proposed to prevent hospitals from refusing abortion care based on personal beliefs

Lucy Barbour
Dec 11, 2025

Hospital managers and executives would be barred from blocking abortions because of personal beliefs, under new guidelines proposed for public health services across New South Wales.

A draft copy of the "termination of pregnancy policy directive", obtained by the ABC, includes a new section that specifically deals with conscientious objection among those managing and administering health and hospital services.

Continued : https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-12/document-reveals-plan-to-limit-blocking-of-abortions/106091562

11.12.2025

News

Amanda Cohn

belief-based care denial

conscientious objection

MSI Australia

Orange Health Service

Pregnancy Options Care and Support Service

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 – Abortion law reform proposed in NSW after Orange hospital ‘ban’

By Joanna Woodburn, ABC Central West
Tuesday 18 February

A major overhaul of New South Wales's abortion laws, which would make it compulsory for most of the state's hospitals to offer the medical service, has been proposed.

Under the NSW Health directive, which outlines the legal requirements for termination of pregnancy, it is not mandatory for the state's health services to provide abortions. They are only required to offer "referral pathways" to ensure women have "timely access to care".

Continued: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-19/abortion-access-law-reform-proposed-nsw-hospitals/104944828

18.02.2025

News

abortion law reform

Abortion Law Reform Act 2019

Orange Health Service

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