The Northern Territory government has voted to legalise the medical termination of pregnancy and passed law decriminalising abortion.
Health Minister Natasha Fyles tabled the bill which passed through Government late Tuesday night, 20 votes for, four against, after a long debate.
Under the new legislation women in the Territory will now also have access to the abortion pill RU486.
"We believe all Territory women are entitled to control over their lives and access to high quality services," Fyles said.
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The Termination of Pregnancy Law Reform BIll remains in Consideration in Detail - the Government has indicated it accepts no amendments
— Legislative Assembly (@LegAssemblyNT) March 21, 2017
This news is in contrast to Queensland which, as Fairfax Media noted last year, has the country's most restrictive abortion legislation. In November is was revealed that Marie Stopes International would cease surgical terminations in two of its north Queensland clinics. Which, as Daisy Dumas, pointed out would make "abortions even harder to access for a remote population already heavily disadvantaged by geography and socio-economy."
Prior laws in the NT stated abortions were only allowed to be performed after a women was assessed by two medical practitioners, either an obstetrician or a gynaecologist. Only two hospitals in Darwin and one in Alice Springs were equipped to carry out the procedure.
Chief Minister Michael Gunner, a supporter of the bill, said the decision now provides Territory women the same choices afforded to others around the country.
"It's my belief that existing Territory legislation unintentionally discriminates against Territory women," he said as reported by the ABC.
"Here in the Territory we have led the nation in progressive reform, unfortunately on this issue we have lagged intolerably behind, and to determent to rights and health of Territory women."