Abortion and safe access zone wins in South Australia and Western Australia
South Australia and Western Australia, the only two Australian states yet to fully modernise their abortion laws, have taken crucial steps this year to shore up reproductive rights.
Safe access zones create protective areas around abortion services, so that intimidating and harassing behaviour targeted at patients and staff accessing the clinic is prohibited.
South Australia
In November, the South Australian Parliament passed laws that will create safe access zones around abortion clinics. Safe access zones create protective areas around abortion services, so that intimidating and harassing behaviour targeted at patients and staff accessing the clinic is prohibited.
Human Rights Law Centre’s Senior Lawyer, Monique Hurley:
It is terrific to see the South Australian Parliament support safe access zones because, for far too long, people have had to run a gauntlet of abuse just to see their doctor. We thank those members who voted in favour of the laws, and acknowledge the tireless efforts of community advocates who have called for this long overdue and much needed reform. Safe access zones are critical to protecting people’s safety and privacy from the harm caused by anti-abortionists.
After the laws overwhelmingly passed the lower house earlier this year, the Health Care (Safe Access) Amendment Bill was brought back to the upper house by Tammy Franks MLC and successfully passed.
In December, the South Australian Parliament took another historic step by passing laws that will decriminalise abortion in South Australia through its upper house. The Termination of Pregnancy Bill will now head to the lower house in 2021.
Human Rights Law Centre’s Senior Lawyer, Monique Hurley:
This is a significant moment for South Australia, and presents an opportunity to finally get the law right when it comes to women’s equality and reproductive freedom. Now is the time for the South Australian Parliament to ensure abortion is treated as the healthcare matter it is.
Western Australia
Safe access zones are now one step closer to becoming law in Western Australia, with laws similar to Victoria’s passing the lower house of their Parliament without amendment yesterday. This is an important step towards bringing Western Australia’s laws in line with every other jurisdiction in the country.
Human Rights Law Centre’s Senior Lawyer, Monique Hurley:
Safe access zone laws are critical to promoting equality and have an important role to play in protecting our right to access healthcare safely. We thank the members of the lower house who supported the safe access zone laws, and urge the Western Australian upper house to do the same and stand up for reproductive rights.
The Public Health Amendment (Safe Access Zones) Bill was introduced into the Western Australian Parliament in October by the Deputy Premier, Roger Cook MLA, and Minister for Women’s Interests, Simone McGurk MLA. The next step is for the laws to pass the upper house of the Parliament.
Media contact:
Michelle Bennett, Communications Director, Human Rights Law Centre, 0419 100 519