Status – Legal. No upper gestational limit.

Details – 2 doctors approval required after 24 weeks' gestation.

Conscientious Objection -

Health practitioners may conscientiously object to participating in abortion, including:

  • Performing a termination.
  • Assisting in a termination (e.g., supplying/administering termination drugs).

Legal duties when objecting:

Medical practitioners:

  • Must inform the woman of their objection.
  • Must refer her within a clinically reasonable time to another medical practitioner known not to object.

Other authorised health practitioners (nurses, midwives, pharmacists, ATSI health practitioners):

  • If directed to assist but objects:
    • The medical practitioner must direct to another authorised practitioner who does not object.

Emergency exception:

  • All practitioners (including those with objections) must:
    • Perform or assist in an abortion if necessary to preserve the woman’s life.

Link to legislation –