Abortion is legal in every state and territory of Australia. Most jurisdictions allow abortion to full term for any reason and many jurisdictions employ “Safe Access Zones” or exclusion zones around abortion facilities. These ensure that pro-life people can’t offer help to women entering an abortion business.
Click on the state or territory to jump to the appropriate section:
- Victoria
- Tasmania
- New South Wales
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Western Australia
- Australian Capital Territory
- Northern Territory
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Victoria
Legislation
Details
- on demand to 24 weeks
- providers may be a medical practitioner, nurse, or pharmacist.
- after 24 weeks, two doctors must approve the abortion; one of these can be the abortionist.
- 150m exclusion zones apply
Tasmania
Legislation
Details
- on demand to 16 weeks.
- after 16 weeks, two doctors must approve the abortion; one of these can be the abortionist.
- doctors with conscientious objection must refer to a practitioner without a conscientious objection.
- 150m safe access zones apply
New South Wales
Legislation
Details
- legal to 22 weeks gestation
- after 22 weeks gestation, a second medical practitioner must approve and counselling offered
- practitioners with a conscientious objection must disclose the objection to the person and refer patient to a practitioner who does not have a conscientious objection.
- 150m safe access zones apply
Queensland
Legislation
Details
- legal to 22 weeks
- after 22 weeks, two practitioners must approve
- practitioners with a conscientious objection must disclose the objection and refer the patient to a practitioner or service who does not have a conscientious objection.
- 150m safe access zones apply
South Australia
Legislation
- South Australia Termination of Pregnancy Act 2021
- Termination of Pregnancy Regulations 2022
Details
- legal to 22 weeks and 6 days.
- after that time, two medical practitioners must approve
- a doctor or nurse with conscientious objection must disclose the objection to the person and refer to a practitioner who does not have a conscientious objection.
- 150m safe access zones apply
- information about counselling must be provided
Western Australia
Legislation
- Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1911
- Public Health Amendment (Safe Access Zones) Act 2021
- Criminal Code Act Compilation Act, 1913
- Abortion Legislation Reform Act 2023.
Details
- legal to 23 weeks pregnant
- nurse practitioners and endorsed midwives are able to to prescribe the medical abortion medicine
- 150m safe access zones apply
Australian Capital Territory
Legislation
Details
- legal to full term
- doctor with conscientious objection must disclose the objection and refer to a practitioner who does not have a conscientious objection.
- 50m safe access zones apply
Northern Territory
Legislation
Details
- legal to 24 weeks gestation
- after 24 weeks, another medical practitioner must approve
- 150m safe access zones apply
- a doctor or nurse with conscientious objection must disclose the objection and refer to a practitioner who does not have a conscientious objection.