KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 26 – New South Wales (NSW) became the last state in Australia today to legalise abortion, making the procedure now legal across the country.
The Abortion Law Reform Act 2019, which already received the consent of the upper house, was passed 26-14 in the state’s lower house after discussions about more than 100 possible amendments.
The law makes it legal for terminations to be conducted up to 22 weeks into a woman’s pregnancy — or later if two doctors agree.
“The current law has meant women and doctors have a threat of 10 years in jail for making this decision and that’s not okay,” said Labor MP Penny Sharpe, one of the bill’s co-sponsors, according to BBC.
“This is a massive step forward for women in this state.”