Hanson Says Late-Term Abortion ‘Abhorrent and Disgusting’

Pauline Hanson said she opposed abortion “until birth” and indicated she believed 20 weeks was too late for most terminations.

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson speaks at the National Press Club in Canberra, Australia on June 17, 2026. Hilary Wardhaugh/Getty Images

One Nation Leader Pauline Hanson has called for a national debate on abortion time limits, declaring that she believes 20 weeks is “too late” for a termination.

Speaking at the National Press Club on June 17, Hanson stated that while she does not oppose abortion for medical reasons or emergency circumstances, she strongly objects to late-term procedures.

“It’s a discussion that needs to be held with the Australian people, but to abort a baby the day before birth is abhorrent and disgusting,” she said.

“I'd rather educate women to use contraceptives than to go through an abortion, there are too many abortions in this country anyway.”

When asked whether she would support laws similar to some U.S. states that ban abortion from as early as four weeks, Senator Hanson declined to commit to a specific timeframe but signalled her preferred threshold.

“I’m not advocating a time at this stage, but I can tell you 20 weeks is too late to have an abortion. 39 weeks to have an abortion is clearly not humane,” Hanson said.

The Queensland senator clarified she would support late-term abortions if the mother’s life was at risk.

South Australia Passes Bill Against Late-Term Abortion

Hanson’s comments come as South Australia’s parliament passed a bill by Family First MP Sarah Game to restrict abortion after 25 weeks.

The legislation split the major parties but secured broad cross-bench support, passing with the backing of One Nation MPs, four Liberals, and two Labor MPs.

Currently, South Australian law allows abortion up to 22 weeks and six days. Terminations beyond that point require the approval of two doctors.

A Patchwork of State Laws

Abortion regulations remain a state-by-state issue in Australia, leading to significant variations across jurisdictions.

In the Australian Capital Territory, abortions can be performed at any stage of pregnancy.

In Tasmania, a woman can have an abortion up until 16 weeks, after which two doctors must approve the procedure based on the risk of harm to the woman.

In the remaining states and the Northern Territory, the cut-off is between 22 and 24 weeks, requiring two doctors’ approval for later abortions.

While limited national data is available, researchers and advocacy groups estimate around 80,000 abortions occur annually in Australia, including approximately 800 late-term procedures.