The Western Australian Parliament has decriminalised abortion, the last Australian state to remove the practice from its criminal code.
Previously, Western Australian women would travel to other states to perform the operation.
“It is clear that the community and Western Australian women want these reforms, and I am proud that my government is delivering them.
“I'd like to thank the broader WA community, as well as the medical community, for assisting us with this important reform,” Premier Cook said in a statement.
Under the new laws, the number of health professionals required to perform abortion care duties has also been reduced from two to one—likely to streamline access to abortion.
Further, the new laws abolish the need for a Ministerial Panel approval, compulsory counselling beforehand, and approval for a health service to perform the act.
Health professionals, however, can object and refuse to provide an abortion, but they must transfer the patient to another health service provider or provide enough information on where to access abortion.
Meanwhile, the gestational limit at which additional requirements apply has been increased from 20 to 23 weeks to be in line with the current clinical practice of other states.
Although abortion is decriminalised in WA, it is still an offence for an unqualified person to perform one.
“WA has removed abortion from the Criminal Code; however, it will still remain an offence for an ‘unqualified person’ to perform an abortion,” said WA Attorney General John Quigley.
WA Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson welcomed the new laws and said it was beneficial for women in regional areas.
“Abortion care has been treated differently for too long when, in fact, it is legal and safe mainstream healthcare for women. This legislation will significantly improve access to abortion care for regional women.”
