Whose choice is it? The unseen side of Australia’s abortion debate

Some pregnant people face harassment and bullying from family members pushing for termination.

6 June 2026
By Rachael Knowles

A political debate around abortion has fired up again in Australia, but some say the issue isn’t just about access – it's about autonomy.

Muktesh Chibber has dedicated her life to supporting migrant women.

The couple and family relationships psychotherapist and mediator, who provides culturally sensitive counselling, says pregnant migrant women face "enormous pressure" from spouses and extended family.

Continued: https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/migrant-women-unheard-in-abortion-debate/2iz4v0ynx

06.06.2026

Family Planning Australia

John Ruddick

Muktesh Chibber

Multicultural Centre for Women's Health

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

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

Abortion pills to be easier to access after Greens bill passes in NSW despite opposition from Tony Abbott
Legislation brings state in line with others, as opposition leader says he refuses to cave to ‘Americanisation of NSW politics’ after grassroots campaign

Natasha May
Wed 14 May

New South Wales women will have easier access to abortion pills after the state passed a bill allowing nurse practitioners and registered midwives to prescribe the medication.

The bill – which aims to improve access to healthcare for women in rural and regional areas – passed the lower house on Wednesday, despite vocal opposition including by former prime minister Tony Abbott.

Continued; https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/14/nsw-medical-abortion-access-bill-passes-both-houses-ntwnfb

Australia – Liberal leader refuses to show hand on contentious abortion bill

By Michael McGowan
May 12, 2025

NSW Opposition Leader Mark Speakman is refusing to say whether he will back legislation to amend the state’s abortion laws so experienced nurses and midwives can prescribe medical terminations up to nine weeks’ gestation.

The state’s lower house will this week vote on a bill put forward by NSW Greens MP Amanda Cohn to widen abortion access, after a NSW Health review found so-called “abortion deserts” across the state were undermining the landmark 2019 legislation which decriminalised it.

Continued: https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/liberal-leader-refuses-to-show-hand-on-contentious-abortion-bill-20250511-p5ly8d.html

12.05.2025

Australia – Pressure mounts for NSW Health to improve abortion access statewide

By Joanna Woodburn, ABC Central West
March 16, 2025

New South Wales Health is refusing to detail what work it is doing to improve access to abortion services at public hospitals across the state.

The department is reviewing its policies governing termination of pregnancy, after its own report on the state's current abortion laws specifically recommended that ways to balance the rights of conscientiously objecting health practitioners with a woman's entitlement to receive timely care be examined.

Continued: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-17/pressure-on-nsw-health-to-improve-abortion-access/105032522

16.03.2025

News

Abortion Law Reform Act 2019

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

NSW abortion deserts: just three of 220 public hospitals provide terminations, research finds

Exclusive: All 15 health districts and the state’s health minister refuse to give public information on access to terminations

Melissa Davey, Nick Evershed and Donna Lu
Mon 16 Dec 2024

Just three of New South Wales’ 220 public hospitals are routinely providing abortions, according to research by the University of Sydney. The research, which maps lack of access to abortion in the state, also reveals that a majority of the state’s cities and towns are “abortion deserts”, meaning the nearest service is more than 160km away.

Abortion is basic healthcare that is legal in NSW. Despite the World Health Organization recommending that all public hospitals provide it, uncovering where it is offered, and under what circumstances, is difficult.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/dec/17/nsw-abortion-deserts-just-three-of-220-public-hospitals-provide-terminations-research-finds

16.12.2024

News

abortion deserts

Dr Anna Noonan

Dr Madeleine Belfrage

Family Planning Australia

Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

Australia – Orange Hospital chief blames abortion ban on staff misinterpreting ‘ambiguous’ policy

By Joanna Woodburn, ABC Central West
Nov 28, 2024

A regional New South Wales hospital is carrying out a "deep look" internal audit to identify whose idea it was to have an abortion ban in place and why it was endorsed by executive staff.

Western NSW Local Health District (LHD) head Mark Spittal has spoken for the first time since it emerged Orange Hospital had introduced restrictions on the provision of abortion services.

Continued: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-11-29/orange-hospital-chief-blames-abortion-ban-on-ambiguous-policy/104657176

28.11.2024

Western NSW Local Health District

Australia – ANU bioethicist questions doctors’ right to conscientiously object to performing abortions

24 November 2024
Oliver Jacques

An Australian National University bioethicist has called for clearer guidelines on when doctors can conscientiously object to performing abortions as calls grow for the service to be provided more widely in NSW.

… Bioethicist Dr Nathan Emmerich recently published a paper which questioned the scope by which doctors could choose not to do abortions due to personal ethical concerns.

https://the-riotact.com/anu-bioethicist-questions-doctors-right-to-conscientiously-object-to-performing-abortions/827742

24.11.2024