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.
Lucy Barbour
Dec 2, 2024
The New South Wales health secretary has apologised to women who have been unable to access abortion care throughout the state.
It comes after an ABC investigation revealed abortions for non-medical reasons were banned at Orange Hospital and surgical abortions were scrapped at Queanbeyan Hospital.
By Lucy Barbour
Nov 14, 2024
A public hospital in New South Wales is set to reinstate surgical abortion services the day after the ABC revealed it had formally scrapped them.
An ABC investigation exposed that Queanbeyan Hospital, which had been providing surgical terminations, turned a woman away on the day of her scheduled procedure.
In response to that woman's experience, health practitioners warned of an "unspoken ban" and accused the Southern NSW Local Health District (SNSWLHD) of being secretive.
Exclusive by national regional affairs reporter Lucy Barbour
Tuesday 12 November
The ABC has uncovered fresh evidence that another public hospital in regional New South Wales has implemented a formal abortion ban. Queanbeyan Hospital was providing surgical terminations for fetal anomalies and medical reasons. But an ABC investigation revealed the service stopped abruptly in August, after a woman was turned away on the day of her planned procedure.
In response to that woman's experience, health practitioners warned of an "unspoken ban". But the ABC has now obtained an email that proves the hospital has formally ceased providing the time-critical health care.
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.
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