Anti-abortion activists are trying to limit access in NSW – and they are just getting started

Obstetricians and gynaecologists say anti sex-selective abortions bill ‘predicated on misinformation’ and ‘underlying aim is to restrict access to abortion’

Tory Shepherd
Wed 3 Jun 2026

The man who wants to ban “sex-selective abortions” is the first person who will tell you it won’t work.

New South Wales Libertarian party MLC John Ruddick has introduced legislation that would see health practitioners sent to prison or fined thousands if they carry out a termination because of the sex of a foetus.

But the experts, the evidence and history show that laws such as these tend to target immigrants, increase stigma and wind back reproductive rights.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jun/03/anti-abortion-activists-are-trying-to-limit-access-in-nsw-and-they-are-just-getting-started

03.06.2026

Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

Ryan Park

sex-selective abortion

One Nation wants to roll back abortion rights in Australia – and is emboldening activists seeking US-style laws

Support for Pauline Hanson’s populist party has given fresh impetus to a loose network of activists trying to chip away at reproductive rights

Tory Shepherd
Mon 1 Jun 2026

The headline act at a Sydney anti-abortion rally being held on Tuesday in support of Libertarian MP John Ruddick’s bill to restrict abortion will not be Ruddick.

It will be the One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce. Joyce left the Nationals last year, not long after he was rebuked for his statements about abortion.

The dramatic rise in the polls of his new party has given fresh impetus to a loose network of anti-abortion groups trying to chip away at reproductive rights.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jun/01/one-nation-rise-anti-abortion-groups-australia-ntwnfb

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/

Australia – Image of ‘twin babies’ used by anti-abortion activist appears to show sugar gliders

Joanna Howe says the image was sent to her by a woman ashamed of her abortion, and used it to support ‘rally for Emma and Ruth’ in favour of NSW bill

Tory Shepherd
Tue 26 May 2026

An image posted by anti-abortion activist Joanna Howe claiming to show aborted twin girls called “Ruth and Emma” appears to be a picture of newborn sugar gliders.

The two little pink bodies are displayed on a clean white background and experts say the image does not look at all like the product of an abortion.

Analysis from a digital forensics expert, commissioned by Guardian Australia, found the image was most likely a sugar glider joey (Petaurus breviceps), or possibly another marsupial such as an opossum.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/27/anti-abortion-activist-joanna-howe-twin-babies-image-likely-to-show-sugar-gliders-ntwnfb

26.05.2026

Abolish Abortion Australia

anti-choice bullshit

anti-choice lies

anti-choice misinformation

anti-choice misogyny

anti-choice propaganda

anti-choice stupidity

Jeremy Thompson

Joanna Howe

Nisha Khot

Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

SA Abortion Action Coalition

South Australian anti-abortion activist posts image of aborted foetus she claims was taken at Townsville hospital

Joanna Howe says a ‘whistleblower’ sent her the image, which she says was taken inside the hospital’s room for grieving parents

Tory Shepherd
Thu 5 Feb 2026

Townsville hospital is investigating an alleged privacy breach after anti-abortion activist Joanna Howe said a “whistleblower” had sent her an image containing distressing and sensitive abortion content.

Howe posted a video on social media that included a picture of a 16-week-old foetus that she said was taken inside the hospital’s Butterfly Room, a place for grieving parents, saying “Samuel” was “born alive” after an abortion.

No evidence was given to support that claim and Howe has been contacted for comment. Multiple health experts have previously said claims by anti-abortion activists that large numbers of babies are “born alive” after abortions are misleading, including in evidence to a state and federal parliamentary inquiry.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/feb/05/anti-abortion-activist-joanna-howe-foetus-photo-ntwnfb

05.02.2026

Dr Nisha Khot

Joanna Howe

Kieran Keyes

Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

Bill to restrict abortions later in pregnancy defeated in South Australia after emotional debate

Amendment would have watered down law to allow abortion only where it would save life of mother or another foetus, or for significant risk of abnormalities

Tory Shepherd
Thu 13 Nov 2025

A bill to restrict access to abortion after 22 weeks and six days has been defeated in the South Australian parliament.

The former One Nation MLC Sarah Game, who is now an independent, worked with the controversial anti-abortion activist Joanna Howe on the legislation that went before the SA parliament on Wednesday night.

It was voted down by 11 votes to eight.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/nov/13/south-australia-abortion-bill-restrict-late-term-defeated-voted-down

Australia – The public hospital patients who ended up paying abortion clinics for miscarriage care

By Emma Pollard
Monday 22 September

Women having miscarriages say they were denied surgical care at the public Mater Mothers’ Hospital in Brisbane because of its religious policies on abortion.

Two women have told ABC News they ended up going to an abortion clinic because the Catholic-run hospital, which receives some taxpayer funding, would not provide them with a surgical procedure when they were having what’s called a missed miscarriage.

Continued; https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-23/qld-mater-miscarriage-care-catholic-hospital-abortion/105781022

New Zealand – RANZCOG guideline expected to be ‘helpful’ for GPs

The RACGP has said a new evidence-based abortion care guideline will support clinicians involved in reproductive healthcare.

Jolyon Attwooll
06 Sep 2023

The RACGP has expressed its support for a draft clinical guideline on abortion care compiled by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG).

In a response sent to RANZCOG last week, the college said the guideline is detailed and will support GPs involved in reproductive healthcare.

Continued: https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/clinical/racgp-backs-comprehensive-abortion-care-guideline

06.09.2023

News

RACGP

RANZCOG

Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners

Home test that checks if an abortion has worked reduces follow-up surgery, study finds

A successful Australian trial of a urine test to detect whether an abortion has worked will be welcomed by rural and remote patients, say clinicians

Natasha May
Wed 16 Aug 2023

A home test that checks whether a drug-induced abortion has worked is not only safe but reduces rates of unnecessary follow-up surgery, an Australian-first study has found.

People who attend clinics to access medication to terminate a pregnancy, known as a medical abortion, usually need to see a doctor 14 days later and may undergo a blood test to examine levels of a hormone known as hCG, along with an ultrasound to rule out complications.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/aug/16/home-test-that-checks-if-an-abortion-has-worked-reduces-follow-up-surgery-study-finds

16.08.2023

home test for mifepristone

Marie Stopes International Australia

medication abortion

mifepristone

Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

Therapeutic Goods Administration

The rate of abortion in Australia is lower than you think

The rate of abortion in Australia is lower than you think
By the National Reporting Team's Alison Branley and medical reporter Sophie Scott

Updated December 13, 2017

An ABC investigation has found that Australia has been following international trends and many of the available statistics point to a marked reduction in terminations across the country to a rate as low as 13.5 per 1,000 women.

Despite the available evidence, key opinion leaders, including the College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, academics and family planning clinics, continue to mistakenly suggest Australia has one of the highest rates of abortion in the developed world — even though it is lower than countries like the UK and Canada.

Continued at source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-13/the-rate-of-abortion-in-australia-is-lower-than-you-think/9250122