NSW Abortion Law Review Backs Greens' Push for Reform
A state government review of abortion laws, conducted five years after decriminalisation, has made several recommendations that align with the Greens forthcoming legislation.
NSW Health has released its Report on the Statutory Review of the Abortion Law Reform Act 2019, which contains findings from stakeholder feedback and recommendations including:
- Amending current legislation to allow nurse practitioners, endorsed midwives, and other registered health practitioners to prescribe and provide services in line with TGA guidelines
- Parts of the current legislation relating to conscientious objection and referral requirements are not believed to be being implemented appropriately, adhered to, and are creating significant barriers to access
- Mandatory reporting requirements for medical practitioners are seen as onerous and unnecessary.
The review’s findings and recommendations land one week before the Greens table the Abortion Law Reform Amendment (Health Care Access) Bill 2025 in the NSW Parliament.
The bill aims to:
- Allow nurse practitioners and enrolled midwives with appropriate training to prescribe medical abortions, per TGA guidelines, up to 9 weeks gestation,
- Remove onerous mandatory reporting requirements for practitioners,
- Oblige local health districts to ensure abortion services are provided at no cost, and with publicly available information on how to access abortion in each local health district, and
- Require practitioners with a conscientious objection to refer a patient.
Quotes attributable to Dr Amanda Cohn, Greens spokesperson for Health including Mental Health, former GP and medical abortion provider:
“This review confirms what we already know—abortion is hard to access in NSW and this needs urgent reform.
“As a former prescriber of medical abortion, I know this is medically straightforward health care, but people are still blocked by cost, stigma, and geography.
“With reproductive rights rapidly being eroded in the US, it’s never been more important to enshrine access to abortion in our public health system here in NSW.
“The recommendation to allow nurses and midwives with appropriate training to prescribe medical abortion is common sense and already in place in other states.
“Changing laws won’t fix this problem by itself. The NSW government must also fund abortion services in public hospitals and adequately support health workers providing this care.”
Dr Cohn’s record on this issue in the NSW Parliament:
First question in the Parliament as a newly elected MP in 2023
Private members’ statement June 2023
Private members’ statement September 2024
Private members’ statement November 2024
Take note debate November 2024
Discussing Greens’ forthcoming bill in the Guardian December 2024
Questioning NSW Health Secretary November 2024
Responding to regional hospitals banning abortion services November 2024
Media contact: Alice Gifford [email protected] 02 9230 2566