- Cook
Government passes modern abortion laws through WA Parliament
- Historic
reform fully decriminalises abortion with the Criminal Code offence repealed
- New
laws will improve healthcare for Western Australian women
Contemporary abortion
laws today passed the Western Australian Parliament, marking a significant day
for women in the State.
The Acts Amendment
(Abortion) Bill 1998 was
ground-breaking at the time, and today in 2023, the Cook Government's contemporary
reforms will ensure Western Australia has modernised abortion laws.
The new laws
address inequity of access in line with other Australian jurisdictions and have
removed clinically unnecessary barriers for women accessing an abortion.
The modernised
laws have reduced the number of health practitioners required to be involved in
most abortion care from two to one, abolished the Ministerial Panel requirement
for later-term abortions, the mandatory counselling provision, and the
requirement for Ministerial approval for a health service to perform late
abortion.
The new laws allow
health practitioners to conscientiously object, but they are required to
transfer the patient's care or provide information on where to access that care.
The gestational limit at which additional requirements apply has been amended
from 20 to 23 weeks to best reflect current clinical practice and better align
WA with other jurisdictions.
Abortion has been removed from the Criminal Code, however, it
will still remain an offence for an 'unqualified person' to perform or assist
with an abortion.
Comments attributed to Premier
Roger Cook:
"It is clear that the community and Western
Australian women want these reforms, and I am proud that my Government is
delivering them.
"I'd like to thank the broader WA community,
as well as the medical community, for assisting us with this important reform.
"The Acts
Amendment (Abortion) Bill 1998 was ground-breaking at that time
and today in 2023 my Government's contemporary reforms will ensure that our
State has modern laws that reflect the society we live in."
Comments attributed to Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson:
"Safe and accessible
abortion is important and historic reform, and today is a significant day for
Western Australian women.
"Abortion care has been treated differently
for too long when in fact it is legal and safe mainstream healthcare for women.
This legislation will significantly improve access to abortion care for
regional women.
"With the passing on this bill today the
Cook Government has taken a big step forward in addressing this inequity."
Comments attributed to
Attorney General John Quigley:
"There is no place for legitimate abortion
services in the Criminal Code.
"WA has removed abortion from the Criminal
Code, however, it will still remain an offence for an 'unqualified person' to
perform an abortion."
Comments attributed to
Women's Interests Minister Sue Ellery:
"This is a historic
moment for women. I'd like to thank the Western Australian community for its
overwhelming support for this Government to make critical changes to our
abortion laws.
"Reproductive rights are
a basic human right and women expect and have a right to make decisions over
their bodies – and it's a right we are fiercely protecting.
"These modernised
abortion laws will ensure Western Australian women have better access to this
important component of women's healthcare."
