A major reform of abortion laws in New South Wales is on the table, with the Greens introducing a bill to enhance access to services and streamline onerous mandatory reporting requirements.
Introduced by NSW Greens MLC and spokesperson for health Dr Amanda Cohn on Wednesday, the Abortion Law Reform Amendment (Health Care Access) Bill 2025 aims to ensure that abortion services are available statewide, within a reasonable distance from people’s homes, and that information on how to access these services is publicly available.
Dr. Cohn emphasised the urgent need for the bill in light of the issue of public hospitals refusing to provide abortion services, citing NSW Health’s apology last December for limitations at public hospitals in Queanbeyan and Orange. Currently, only three of the state’s 220 public hospitals routinely offer abortion services.
“The NSW Health Policy Directive Framework for Termination of Pregnancy guides the provision of abortion services in NSW. This framework does not require NSW Health to provide abortion services, only that referral pathways are in place. In some areas, this referral pathway is to a different Local Health District, or to private providers,” Cohn said.
“This is not a health care system – it’s a postcode lottery.”
Dr Cohn gave notice of the bill to increase access to abortion health care last year. (Source: Instagram)
The bill also seeks to expand access by allowing nurse practitioners and endorsed midwives to prescribe medical abortions up to nine weeks gestation, in accordance with TGA guidelines.
Additionally, it looks to remove unnecessary mandatory requirements for healthcare practitioners to report a termination within 28 days to the Ministry of Health and will mandate those with conscientious objections to abortion must refer patients to a provider who will offer the service.
Dr. Cohn — who is a former GP and medical abortion provider — stressed that while abortion has been legal in NSW since 2019, access to these services remains inconsistent.
“Abortion is health care – and while the law changed in 2019, access to care has not,” she said in a statement.
“Abortion services are not something public hospitals with the capability to provide them should be able to opt out of.”
The proposed reforms are based on findings from a recent review of the Abortion Law Reform Act 2019, conducted by NSW Health, which found numerous areas in NSW are “abortion deserts,” with the nearest service sometimes more than 160 km away.
Moreover, the findings noted issues with conscientious objections and referral barriers, as well as mandatory reporting requirements which have been described as unnecessary.
“This bill offers practical reform that brings NSW in line with other states and territories, and makes the system work better for patients and health workers,” Cohn said.
“I acknowledge the Premier and Health Minister making it clear that abortion rights will not be wound back under this Government, but continuing with business as usual is not enough.
“Access to abortion services in our public health system in NSW must be enshrined in our laws.”
She observed that changing laws “won’t fix this problem by itself”, calling on the NSW government to also fund abortion services in public hospitals and adequately support health workers providing this care.
“The Greens will keep fighting until abortion is safe, legal, and free in every corner of NSW,” she stated.
With the bill now before Parliament, it remains to be seen how lawmakers proceed with the next steps.
Lead image: iStock Images
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