Australia abortion laws: Terminations finally allowed across country after landmark vote

‘Sorry it took so long,’ politician tweets after landmark bill passes

The most populous Australian state has decriminalised abortion after a landmark government vote.

Women who had illegal terminations in New South Wales, which contains Sydney, previously faced up to 10 years in prison under a 119-year-old law.

Doctors in the state could only perform abortions if they believed a pregnancy would do serious harm to the mother’s health.

Legislation updating the rule passed on Thursday, by a voice vote in the state legislature.

Supporters of the bill celebrated outside the chamber after it became law.

“Abortion has been decriminalised in [New South Wales],” Alex Greenwich, one of the bill’s supporters, said in a tweet. “Sorry it took so long.”

Controversy over the bill split the ruling conservative state government and led to attempt to remove Gladys Berejiklian, New South Wales’ premier, from her post.

The new law allows abortions for women who are up to 22 weeks pregnant.

After 22 weeks, two doctors need to approve a termination and are required to seek advice from a hospital committee.

Hardline anti-abortion groups have condemned the new law.

Anthony Fisher, the Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, said the vote was a “dark day” for the state.

He said in a statement: “It may be the worst law passed in New South Wales in modern times, because it represents such a dramatic abdication of responsibility to protect the most vulnerable members of our community.”

Abortion is now accessible in some form across Australia and has been decriminalised in most states.

Some terminations are still criminalised in South Australia, which prohibits illegal terminations in its Crimes Act.

Abortions in the state are legal before 28 weeks, but only if two doctors believe there is a risk to the woman’s life or if the child would be seriously disabled.

The state’s laws are currently under review.

Additional reporting by agencies