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Abortion - Implementation
In late September 2007, the Attorney-General asked the commission to provide advice about options for reforming the law of abortion. The final report was delivered to the Attorney-General in March 2008 and tabled in parliament some weeks later.
The report provided three models for the decriminalisation of abortion and in September a Bill was introduced in Parliament that reflected the Model B in the commission’s report. All parties allowed members of Parliament to make a conscience vote and in October the Bill was passed by both houses.
The Abortion Law Reform Act 2008 removes provisions about abortion from the Crimes Act. Under the Act a woman will be able to access abortion up to a gestational limit of 24 weeks. After that point a medical practitioner will be able to provide an abortion if another practitioner agrees that an abortion is appropriate in all the circumstance.