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Abortion Law Reform
Women's Health Victoria monitors developments on state, federal and international levels and shares current information on the abortion debate to support its own advocacy work and that of other organisations and individuals.
 The current situation in Victoria Termination of pregnancy is the only medical procedure in Australia that is criminalised. The current legal status inhibits the reliable, well-planned delivery of termination of pregnancy services. This has resulted in patchy and inequitable service provision with a serious under-supply of public sector services. Difficulty in access impacts most on vulnerable and disadvantaged women, particularly those living in regional and rural Victoria. The inclusion of abortion in the Crimes Act is a significant barrier to improving the current situation. On the 20th of August 2007, the Victorian Premier, Mr John Brumby announced that the Government would ask the Victorian Law Reform Commission for advice on drafting laws that reflect existing Victorian abortion practices. This came in response to a Private Members Bill to decriminalise abortion bought before the Parliament by Upper House MP Candy Broad. The terms of reference for the Victorian Law Reform Commission inquiry are available. Women's Health Victoria prepared a written submission to the Victorian Law Reform Commission Inquiry into Abortion Law Reform. The Victorian Law Reform Commission report and recommendations were provided to government on March 28 2008, and this report was tabled in Parliament and made public on May 29 2008. WHV has written a media release , and Marilyn Beaumont, Executive Director, had an opinion piece published in The Age following the release of the report and recommendations. WHV, with more than 40 other highly regarded organisations and individuals, signed on in support of Model C , the only model outlined in the Victorian Law Reform Commission Report into the decriminalisation of abortion to give women full autonomy. On the 19 August 2008, Minister for Women's Affairs, Maxine Morand, introduced the Abortion Law Reform Bill 2008 into Parliament. (Second Reading speech) The Bill is an adaptation of Model B described in the Victorian Law Reform Commission Report. Under the Bill, terminations of pregnancy will be regulated like any other medical procedure up to 24 weeks gestation. After 24 weeks gestation, a registered medical practitioner may perform an abortion on a woman only if the medical practitioner - In considering all the circumstances the registered medical practitioners must have regard to all relevant medical circumstances and the woman's current and future physical, psychological, and social circumstances. WHV commends the Victorian Government on bringing the rights of women into the 21st century with a Bill that broadly reflects community standards and current clinical practice and fulfils the terms of reference provided to the Victorian Law Reform Commission. There are many aspects of the Bill worth celebrating such as removing abortion from the Crimes Act. It is however concerning that the Bill does not give decision making authority to women post 24 weeks, particularly as we know that the less than 1% of women who find themselves having to make this choice, are often caught up in rare, complex and distressing circumstances often beyond their control. WHV has released a media release commenting on the Bill.
Women's Health Victoria has created a page of quality evidence-based resources on abortion. If you can't find the information you're looking for, search our database or send us an email. Take personal action to express your views to your elected representatives. To help you find your local Victorian Member of Parliament follow the links below. Contact details are also available from these links.
You can download two petitions, one for each of the Victorian Parliament houses. Use this to gather signatures from friends, family, neighbours and colleagues, then give the petition to your local MP. Both houses of the Victorian Parliament, Legislative Council and Legislative Assembly, receive petitions.
Contribute more information Women's Health Victoria is collecting information on politicians' stance and would welcome your contributions. You can email us with any relevant items that you think are worthy of notice.
Go to Abortion health issues page.
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