Íæż½ã½ãUrges Support for Abortion Law Reform Amendment (Health Care Access) Bill 2025
RANZCOG
The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
Íæż½ã½ãwelcomes the introduction of the by Dr Amanda Cohn MLC.
In 2019, Íæż½ã½ãwas actively engaged in the legislative process that led to the decriminalisation of abortion in NSW. That landmark reform rightly recognised abortion as essential health care rather than a criminal matter. However, five years on, access to abortion services remains inadequate—particularly for women on low incomes and those in regional, rural, and remote areas.
Abortion care is essential health care. It must be timely, accessible at all gestations, and fully integrated into the public health system. Women in Australia should be able to rely on their government to ensure equitable access to these services.
The Abortion Law Reform Amendment (Health Care Access) Bill 2025 seeks to address ongoing barriers by:
Ensuring abortion services are available across NSW within a reasonable distance of residents’ homes, with clear public information on service access;
Expanding access by allowing nurse practitioners and endorsed midwives to prescribe medical abortions up to nine weeks’ gestation, in line with Therapeutic Goods Administration (‘TGA’) guidelines;
Removing unnecessary mandatory reporting requirements that hinder practitioners from providing care; and
Requiring objecting practitioners to refer patients to an alternative provider willing to offer the service.
These amendments align with the findings of NSW Health’s recent
As the peak body for women’s health in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, Íæż½ã½ãhas the specialist expertise to provide abortion services and lead education, training, and expert guidance in this critical area of health care. Accordingly, Íæż½ã½ãstrongly endorses the Abortion Law Reform Amendment (Health Care Access) Bill 2025 and urges support from key stakeholders to ensure its passage through the NSW Parliament.
For media enquiries
Bec McPhee
Head of Advocacy & Communications
bmcphee@ranzcog.edu.au
+61 413 258 166