Abortion Legislation Reform Act 2023

Abortion Legislation Reform Act 2023
Abortion Legislation Reform Act 2023
Parliament of Western Australia
	Long title An Act — to amend The Criminal Code to remove offences related to abortion; and; to amend the Public Health Act 2016 to regulate the performance of abortion by registered health practitioners and prohibit the; performance of abortion by certain persons; and to make consequential and related amendments to other Acts; and; for related purposes ; ;
Citation	No. 20 of 2023
Considered by	Legislative Assembly of Western Australia
Considered by	Legislative Council of Western Australia
Royal assent	27 September 2023
Commenced	27 March 2024
Legislative history
First chamber: Legislative Assembly of Western Australia
First reading	21 June 2023
Second reading	15 August 2023
Third reading	17 August 2023
Second chamber: Legislative Council of Western Australia
First reading	17 August 2023
Second reading	17 August 2023
Third reading	31 August 2023
	Status: Current legislation

The Abortion Legislation Reform Act 2023 is an act of the Parliament of Western Australia relating to the decriminalisation of abortion.

Background

At the time the legislation was passed, Western Australia was the last state where abortion remained under the criminal code.^[1]

Provisions

The act includes provisions to:^[2]

remove the need for patients to be referred for an abortion by a dcotor
remove the need for obligatory counselling
put doctors who conscientiously object to abortion under an "obligation to refer" the patient to a doctor who has no conscientious objection
transfer abortion to being a healthcare matter

Late term abortions are reclassified from being from 20 weeks' gestation to being from 23 weeks' gestation.^[3] The legislation does not include restrictions on sex-selective abortions.^[4]

Reception

The legislation was praised by MSI Australia, who said "The changes better recognise and respect the bodily autonomy of women."^[5]

References

^ Shepherd, Tory (27 June 2022). "Explainer: Is abortion legal in Australia and what are the laws in each state?". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 28 June 2022. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
^ Bourke, Keane (21 June 2023). "WA's abortion laws are set for a major overhaul. Here's everything you need to know". ABC News. Archived from the original on 8 August 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
^ Bourke, Keane (20 September 2023). "Landmark reforms to WA's abortion laws pass state parliament". ABC News. Archived from the original on 27 September 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
^ Bunch, Aaron; Hastie, Hamish (21 September 2023). "Abortion decriminalised in WA under sweeping reforms". WA Today. Archived from the original on 30 November 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
^ "WA becomes the final state to decriminalise abortion, as premier praises change". SBS News. 28 March 2024. Archived from the original on 20 May 2025. Retrieved 12 July 2025.

[1] Shepherd, Tory (27 June 2022). "Explainer: Is abortion legal in Australia and what are the laws in each state?". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 28 June 2022. Retrieved 12 July 2025.

[2] Bourke, Keane (21 June 2023). "WA's abortion laws are set for a major overhaul. Here's everything you need to know". ABC News. Archived from the original on 8 August 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2025.

[3] Bourke, Keane (20 September 2023). "Landmark reforms to WA's abortion laws pass state parliament". ABC News. Archived from the original on 27 September 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2025.

[4] Bunch, Aaron; Hastie, Hamish (21 September 2023). "Abortion decriminalised in WA under sweeping reforms". WA Today. Archived from the original on 30 November 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2025.

[5] "WA becomes the final state to decriminalise abortion, as premier praises change". SBS News. 28 March 2024. Archived from the original on 20 May 2025. Retrieved 12 July 2025.

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