Community consultation on abortion has revealed widespread support for reform in WA.
The public consultation report on significant abortion reform was released on 10 June 2023, and more than 17,500 people had their say, showing overwhelming public and health professional support for change.
The four-week consultation period, to supply input into key issues regarding access to abortion care, was opened on 20 November 2022 in preparation for the introduction of legislative amendments to contemporise the provision of services in WA.
WA Attorney General, Mr John Quigley, explained that the government expected to introduce a bill to Parliament later this month to fully decriminalise the provision of abortion in the state.
“The Criminal Code has no role to play in regulating access to legitimate abortion services and importantly this offence will be repealed,” he said.
Around 91% of respondents were WA residents, of which 81% were women, and the consultation identified specific support for:
- reducing the number of health practitioners required to be involved in care from two to one (69% in favour)
- abolishing the ministerial panel requirement for later term abortions (67%)
- allowing health practitioners to conscientiously object but be required to refer patients to a clinician willing and able to provide care (72%)
- removing mandatory counselling provisions (63%)
- removing the requirement for ministerial approval for a health service to perform late abortions (65%); and
- feedback also supported the proposal to increase the gestational age at which additional requirements apply to better align with other jurisdictions, with 60% of people of reproductive age in favour.
Minister for Women’s Interests, Ms Sue Ellery, highlighted the substantial number of female respondents and noted that it was a sign of meaningful change for women to have such a powerful voice in the discussion.
“Western Australian women should not face barriers to access safe, private and dignified abortion,” Ms Ellery said. “We are committed to removing the outdated barriers faced by those accessing abortion in our State and this consultation is an important step towards modernising WA’s laws.”
WA Minister for Health and Mental Health, Ms Amber-Jade Sanderson, explained that another aim of introducing legislation changes was to remove clinically unnecessary and antiquated barriers for women accessing an abortion.
“Abortion is a critical component of women’s healthcare, and the Cook Government is working to remove unnecessary restrictions on accessing care in WA,” Ms Sanderson said.
The report into the online consultation is available here:
https://www.health.wa.gov.au/Reports-and-publications/Abortion-legislation-reform