Community Consultation: Abortion Legislation in Western Australia

Overview

In 1998, Western Australia (WA) became the first Australian jurisdiction to decriminalise abortion.

In WA abortions can be legally performed if certain requirements have been met. These requirements are set out in the Criminal Code Compliation Act 1913 and the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1911 (WA) Act.

Community feedback invited

Abortion care is vital healthcare.  The department has prepared a Discussion Paper which outlines the challenges to accessing abortion care and the suggested reforms to address these.

We want to hear from women, including people who have had abortions, healthcare providers, experts on the key issues and other community members

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 Department of Health (the department) is proposing legislative amendments to:

• improve access to safe and timely abortion care in WA by reducing barriers to healthcare access and streamlining care pathways, and
• align with laws in other States and Territories when suitable for the WA context.

You are invited to provide feedback by completing the online consultation survey. The survey has 19 questions and should take around 10 to 15 minutes to complete.

Written submissions can also be sent by:

Email: abortionlaws@health.wa.gov.au

Post: 

Abortion Legislation – Proposal for reform in Western Australia

Public Health Regulation Directorate

Department of Health

PO Box 8172

Perth Business Centre, WA 6849

Why your views matter

Your feedback forms part of a public consultation process and the department may quote your comments in future publications.

You can choose to keep your response confidential if you do not want your response to be included in excerpts or direct quotes. If you choose to keep your response confidential, your submission will still be considered as part of the consultation process and your responses will be included in unidentified summary information.

Please do not include any personal or confidential information that you do not want to become publicly available through a Freedom of Information request.