Historic win for better healthcare as WA passes new abortion laws
A landmark milestone for equality and reproductive rights was achieved when the Western Australia Parliament finally passed new health-focused abortion laws that will see abortion removed from the state’s criminal laws.
Every person should have the power to decide what’s right for their body and their future. That’s why advancing reproductive freedom in Australia has long been a goal of the Human Rights Law Centre.
Last night, a landmark milestone for equality and reproductive rights was achieved when the Western Australia Parliament finally passed new health-focused abortion laws that will see abortion removed from the state’s criminal laws. With the passing of these laws, abortion by doctors has now been decriminalised Australia-wide.
WA’s new laws will see abortion treated like healthcare, with unnecessary legal barriers to timely care removed, such as mandatory counselling and needing multiple doctors’ approval. The new laws also require doctors who object to abortion to respect their patient’s right to healthcare and will help improve access to care in regional areas by supporting nurse-led care.
This moment has been achieved through generations of protest and advocacy from organisations and individuals around Australia, including the Human Rights Law Centre. We’ve worked closely with many incredible community advocates, doctors, nurses, social workers, lawyers and politicians, and heard many brave women tell their stories. This moment is a testament to their determination and to collaborative action.
Much remains to be done to ensure that every person can access abortion care regardless of who they are, where they live or how much money they have. This historic moment shows us that by working together, we can get there.
“When I first joined the Human Rights Law Centre, five states and territories were still using outdated criminal laws to regulate people’s access to abortion. Staff and patients were still being harassed and abused by anti-abortionists outside clinics. It’s been incredible to play a role over the past six years, with so many others, in changing the story about abortion in Australia and ensuring that our laws prioritise the health, dignity and safety of people needing healthcare.”
– Adrianne Walters, Human Rights Law Centre
What issue unites Coalition, Labor, Green, teal and One Nation voters? Whistleblower protections
The Albanese Government’s persecution of whistleblowers Richard Boyle and David McBride is unjust, and the public doesn’t support it. It’s time for much-needed reform.
Read more
We’re fighting Tasmania’s parole board gag on free speech
We have filed legal proceedings on behalf of Tasmanian grandmother, Susan Neill-Fraser. Her case challenges a restrictive parole condition placed on her by the Parole Board of Tasmania which limits her ability to speak to the media.
Read more
Universities must stop restricting protests and surveilling staff and students
The Human Rights Law Centre is urging the University of Melbourne to abandon new policy changes that severely restrict protest rights and allow widespread surveillance of students and staff through the universities’ wifi network.
Read more
Acknowledgement of Country
The Human Rights Law Centre acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands across Australia, including the lands of the Wurundjeri, Boon Wurrung, Gadigal, Ngunnawal, Cammeraygal, Darug, Wadawurrung, Turrbal and Jagera people where we work from.
We pay our respect to Elders past and present. This land always was, and always will be Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land. Sovereignty has never been ceded.
WARNING: This site contains images or names of people who have passed away.