22/09/2025

A renewed push to place new restrictions on abortion access in South Australia is a backwards step and the Australian Lawyers Alliance urges politicians to reject the proposed amendment.

“We ask South Australian politicians to listen to the medical experts on this matter,” said Australian Lawyers Alliance state president, Mr Tim Downie. “Health care, medical and legal organisations have all condemned plans to place any new restrictions on terminating pregnancies in South Australia.

“Decisions about pregnancy terminations need to be made by the pregnant person and their doctors, not by politicians.

“Denying women access to pregnancy termination services infringes on their rights in many different ways and may undermine a woman’s access to best practice heath care.”

Widespread consultation and detailed analysis took place to develop the Termination of Pregnancy Act 2021.

“The proposed amendment disregards all the consultation and careful consideration that went into developing the current law and will strip people of the right to access individual and personalised care that is specific to their circumstances,” said Mr Downie.

“There are other barriers, including geographical and cultural, that still make it difficult for some women in SA to access abortion care. We need to be working toward providing equal access to health care for all women, not adding laws that provide more restrictions.”

The ALA is a national association of lawyers, academics and other professionals dedicated to protecting and promoting justice, freedom and the rights of the individual.