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