The State Government, through the Department of Health, is proposing changes to existing abortion legislation to
improve access to safe and timely abortion care in Western Australia.
A public consultation on the proposed reforms is now open.
Abortion laws in WA have not been revised in the past 20 years and no longer align with the legislation in other Australian jurisdictions.
A Discussion Paper has been prepared to outline the challenges accessing abortion care and the suggested reform, which includes:
- streamlining care pathways and removing clinically unnecessary barriers to care
- aligning with laws in other States and Territories when suitable for the WA context.
Feedback from the community is key to ensuring an abortion care system is fit for purpose and enables women to easily access safe healthcare in WA.
We want to hear from women, people who have had abortions, family and support people, healthcare providers and experts on the key issues.
For more information and to provide a submission, visit the Department of Health’s public consultation page(external site).
Participants are strongly encouraged to read the Discussion Paper before making a submission.
The consultation is not seeking feedback on whether abortion should be precluded or prevented. Abortion is legally available healthcare in Western Australia.
The public consultation is open for a period of four weeks, closing Saturday 17 December 2022.