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Epoch Times
26-05-2025
- Health
- Epoch Times
NSW Parliament Passes Bill to Allow Nurses, Midwives to Prescribe Abortion Drugs
After extensive debate and review, the Abortion Law Reform Amendment (Health Care Access) Bill 2025 passed the NSW Parliament on May 14, with 65 votes in favour and 20 against. The bill marks a significant step in expanding access to abortion services in regional and rural NSW. Introduced by Greens MP Dr Amanda Cohn, the bill allows nurse practitioners and endorsed midwives to prescribe and provide medical abortion drugs for pregnancies up to nine weeks—a role previously limited to doctors. Cohn, who led the reform, said the bill would help address gaps in reproductive care for women outside metropolitan areas. 'This bill is about access,' she said. 'It's about ensuring women outside our cities can get safe, legal, timely reproductive healthcare.' Currently, only doctors can prescribe MS-2 Step—the medication used for medical abortions—making access in regional areas difficult. Cohn argued the bill was necessary to 'end abortion deserts' in rural NSW. Related Stories 5/14/2025 5/13/2025 The legislation also gives the health minister authority to direct public hospitals to provide abortion services. However, a clause that would have required 'conscientious objectors' to refer patients elsewhere was removed during negotiations. This clause was heavily criticised by former Prime Minister Tony Abbott who said it would be 'cancelling faith in public life,' and force those with religious beliefs to act Abbott spoke at a protest outside NSW Parliament House on May 7 attended by hundreds of individuals. Final Debate Sees Push For Stricter Conditions Despite the bill's broad support from parliamentarians, its final debate saw several MPs attempt to introduce stricter conditions. Some MPs proposed that only nurse practitioners and midwives with further years of experience should be permitted to prescribe abortion medication. Others argued for mandatory counselling alongside any termination procedure. Alister Henskens, the member for Wahroonga, and Joe McGirr, member for Wagga Wagga, were among those calling for these changes. However, Independent MP Alex Greenwich opposed the stricter conditions, saying they had not been consulted with the nursing profession, and risked undermining the bill's intent. 'It essentially seeks to add two years' experience, in addition to the extensive training nurse practitioners and endorsed midwives have already undertaken,' Greenwich said. He noted that nurses in Australia must already complete 5,000 hours of practice in their specialty before they can apply to become a nurse practitioner. Once endorsed, they are required to undertake additional professional development, and be governed by legal and clinical standards. Health Minister Opposes Training Requirement Health Minister Ryan Park also opposed the proposed training requirement, saying it would create barriers to access. 'Stipulating specific training requirements is not appropriate to do via legislation,' he said. He added that no other health service sets clinical training standards in legislation, and warned that such a move could set an unworkable precedent, putting NSW out of line with national practices.
The Guardian
21-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
State and federal MPs describe death threats and vile abuse in wake of Joanna Howe's anti-abortion campaign
State and federal MPs around the country say they and their staff have received death threats from third parties amid controversy generated by the self-described 'assertiveness' of the anti-abortion activist Joanna Howe. Howe, an expert in migration law at the University of Adelaide, has campaigned for anti-abortion laws in various state parliaments, and this month organised a rally – attended by the former prime minister Tony Abbott – against NSW reforms to improve access to services. She said on social media people 'need to be hysterical' about the bill, which represented what she called 'an extreme, radical takeover of our country'. In NSW parliament this week, the state Liberal leader, Mark Speakman, accused Howe of 'brazen bullying'. The NSW Greens MP Amanda Cohn, who introduced the bill, told Guardian Australia she had received 'threats to my personal safety' from third parties and felt her workplace had become 'unsafe' for her staff. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email Labor's Julia Finn accused Howe in NSW parliament last week of using 'bizarre and nasty' tactics and 'obnoxious, attention-seeking behaviour'. She told parliament Howe had gone into her office and spoken to a heavily pregnant and 'vulnerable' electorate officer, and 'while she did not say anything unkind', the interaction was filmed and posted without the staff member's knowledge or consent. 'That is not OK,' Finn said. Howe did not take the post down when asked, Finn said. Howe said in a social media post it was possible the staff member did not know she was being filmed but didn't know if she (Howe) could be held responsible for that. A federal MP who asked not to be named told Guardian Australia they were targeted online by Howe after expressing their views on abortion. They said they then received abusive messages from anonymous people, including one who said they hoped the MP would suffer and die, and another who said their mother should have 'swallowed' so that they were never born. The MP said they were concerned enough about those messages to contact the police. The independent South Australian MLC Tammy Franks, formerly of the Greens, told Guardian Australia her office received threats from third parties after Howe named her as part of the 'Baby-Killers Club' for being opposed to what the Greens described as a 'forced birth' bill last year. Howe was banned from SA parliament for her behaviour during the vote for that bill. 'We got lots of death threats, we got rape threats to the office … that was to the person who answered the phone,' Franks said. Howe has posted multiple videos of herself following MPs and asking them questions about abortion. In one, she follows the South Australian child protection minister, Katrine Hildyard, as she leaves Easter mass and, as Hildyard helps a parishioner into a car, asks her why she wants 'babies born dead'. Hildyard was also one of the women Howe branded as part of the 'Baby-Killers Club'. Staff in the office of the Queensland Labor leader, Steven Miles, called the police after Howe entered their office last year and the person with her began filming without consent, while she asked a staff member about abortion and refused to leave when asked. Howe posted a video of the police talking to her after the incident. The police said their concern was that she had not left when asked. Howe said she thought it was 'problematic in a democracy' that she couldn't speak to Miles, who was premier at the time, to 'hold him to account', and 'insane' that the staff member called the police. No charges were laid. One social media post from Howe about Miles attracted multiple comments from other internet users wishing death on Miles, including saying someone should 'terminate his life', that he should 'have a date with a NOOSE' and that he should swing 'from the gallows'. The comments remain online. In 2023, the Labor MLC Lorna Harper told the Western Australian parliament Howe had attacked her and her beliefs online and encouraged her followers to 'leave offensive messages' on her social media for supporting abortion legislation. Harper said 'according to [Howe's] followers' she was 'a baby killer, a murderer, not fit to be in parliament, a radical, highly offensive, gutless, coldblooded and a feminist extremist'. Howe has been praised by the Coalition senators Alex Antic and Matt Canavan, the United Australia Party senator Ralph Babet and some state parliament representatives for her advocacy for anti-abortion laws, none of which have passed. Speakman told parliament this week Howe had 'threatened to lead a public campaign aimed at encouraging a grassroots opposition to you as Liberal leader' if he supported the NSW bill. Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion 'I will not cave to brazen bullying like this nor to the Americanisation of NSW politics,' Speakman said. Howe said in response on social media that politicians used parliamentary privilege to tell 'the most brazen lies' while they 'work with their comrades in the media in advance' to get coverage. She said MPs weaponised accusations of misinformation and disinformation and likened it to 'some kind of Tourette's' or 'verbal diarrhoea'. She said of being called a bully that it was 'democracy' and she was just asking questions. 'It's not like I'm going around threatening to beat up their family or I'm finding them in a dark alleyway and I'm … harassing them,' she said. She said pro-life women and church leaders had always sat down with politicians for meetings and 'just lost dismally', playing 'Christian voters for fools'. 'I'm not your nice pro-life Christian girl,' she said. 'I bring a level of activism and assertiveness and it's clearly effective because it's rattled you [NSW politicians],' she said. 'You're just going to have to get with the program, because the old sitting down for a meeting and listening to your BS … those days are over. We're not doing that any more.' Howe also published video of the NSW premier, Chris Minns, criticising her. 'He's just called me a liar and a bully,' she said. 'It really just shows how fragile these snowflake politicians are.' Other comments he made were 'good' for a potential defamation action, she said. 'For Minns to say that, you know, I'm responsible for all this misinformation, whipping up this hysteria – people need to be hysterical about this bill,' she said. 'This was an extreme, radical takeover of our country.' Howe targeted the federal Liberal senator Maria Kovacic with a petition for her to be 'dumped', describing her as having an 'anti-child, anti-family ideology'. Kovacic told Guardian Australia MPs had a duty to resist attempts to coerce them into silence or submission. Franks said she 'can't believe' the University of Adelaide lets Howe 'trade on her association with that institution as a law professor when her lack of respect for … what is reasonable behaviour in the democratic process continues to be flouted'. The university said academics were free to 'make lawful public comment on any issue in their personal capacities', but were expected to comply with the university's code of conduct. It did not say whether it considered Howe's actions to be in accordance with the code. Howe did not respond to a request for comment, but posted on X saying she did not need to answer questions and was 'busy being a real person with a life'.
7NEWS
15-05-2025
- Health
- 7NEWS
Nurses and midwifes allowed to prescribe abortions in NSW bringing state in line with rest of Australia
Abortion acess in NSW will expand as the state allows nurses and midwives to prescribe drugs to terminate pregnancies. An amended bill to address the address the state's 'abortion deserts' was passed in NSW parliament's lower house on Wednesday. It was put forward by Greens MP Amanda Cohn to remove barriers to abortion for women in areas outside major cities. Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today The bill will still need to return to the state's upper house, which does not sit again until May 27. Sixty-five lower house MPs supported the change in a conscience vote, while 20 were opposed. Political leaders lamented the 'Americanisation' of the debate around increasing access. NSW Opposition Leader Mark Speakman alleged in parliament that a prominent campaigner threatened to derail his leadership if he supported the bill. Anti-abortion activist Joanna Howe told him she would 'lead a public campaign aimed at encouraging a grassroots opposition to you as Liberal leader,' Speakman told MPs under parliamentary privilege. 'I will not cave to brazen bullying like this, nor to the Americanisation of NSW politics,' he said. Speakman supported the bill, calling it 'a shadow of its former self'. The pared-back bill has been narrowed along guidelines from the national regulator, allowing qualified nurse practitioner and endorsed midwives to prescribe abortion medication known as MS-2 Step. 'It can no longer be characterised as a 'radical Greens bill',' Speakman said. Premier Chris Minns backed his political rival, suggesting Dr Howe had spread an 'enormous amount of misinformation and lies' on her social media channels. 'It's whipped up a lot of good people in the community believing that the legislative changes are far more extensive than they in fact were,' Minns said. AAP FactCheck in March debunked the Adelaide Law School professor's claim the bill would 'force the closure of all Christian and Catholic hospitals unless they perform abortions'. The push to expand abortion access came after revelations a woman was denied an abortion on the day of her planned procedure at Queanbeyan District Hospital, in the southeast of NSW, in August 2024. Another public hospital in Orange, in the Central Tablelands, restricted terminations for non-medical reasons, triggering Health Minister Ryan Park to intervene and reinstate abortions without restrictions in October 2024. Abortion was permitted by the courts in NSW in 1971 and decriminalised in 2019 but is not always accessible, particularly in rural and regional areas. Rules for abortion acrosss Australia The ACT, Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia have also permitted qualified nurses and midwives to prescribe abortion drugs following advice from the Therapeutic Goods Administration. But when it comes to abortion, there are no federal laws and the approach varies across Australia, according to state and territory governments and national abortion provider and advocate MSI Australia. In the ACT, gestational limits include nine weeks for medical abortions and 16 weeks for surgical abortions, but services are accessible after that time with referrals from a doctor Nurses and midwives in the ACT are also permitted to prescribe drugs for medical terminations In the Northern Territory and Victoria, abortion is legal up to 24 weeks gestation, and permitted after that in special or emergency circumstances with approval from two doctors In Queensland, abortion is legal up to 22 weeks, and permitted after that in special or emergency circumstances with approval from two doctors. Nurses and midwives in Queensland are also permitted to prescribe and administer drugs for medical terminations In NSW, abortion is legal up to 22 weeks, and permitted after that in special or emergency circumstances with approval from two doctors. Nurses and midwives will be able to prescribe drugs for medical terminations up to nine weeks gestation under legislation before parliament. In Tasmania, abortion is legal up to 16 weeks, and permitted after that in special or emergency circumstances with approval from two doctors. In South Australia, abortion is legal up to 22 weeks and six days, and permitted after that in special or emergency circumstances with approval from two doctors. Nurses and midwives are also permitted to prescribe drugs for medical terminations. In Western Australia, abortion is legal up to 23 weeks, and permitted after that in special or emergency circumstances with approval from two doctors. Nurses and midwives in Western Australia are also permitted to prescribe drugs for medical terminations.
West Australian
14-05-2025
- Health
- West Australian
NSW Greens' abortion bill inches closer despite misinformation claims, significant amendments
A Bill seeking to expand access to abortions in NSW, particularity in remote and regional communities, has reached a major milestone after passing the lower house, despite significant changes and claims of misinformation. The Bill, introduced by upper house Greens MP Dr Amanda Cohn in February, would expand access to abortions by allowing nurse practitioners to supply medication to terminate pregnancies of up to nine weeks in gestation. Since being introduced, the Bill has been significantly watered down with amendments specifying the endorsed nurse practitioners and midwives must have the needed skills and training to administer the drug, known as MS-2 Step. Opponents of the Bill – including former prime minister Tony Abbott – have argued against forcing conscientious objectors to actively refer abortion services. That component was removed as the Bill made its way through parliament. NSW Opposition Leader Mark Speakman on Wednesday said he would support the current, amended Bill, as did Labor Premier Chris Minns. The lead-up to Wednesday's vote was marred by allegations of misinformation, but ultimately passed without significant discourse in the lower house after two proposed amendments were shot down by a majority of MPs. A third reading of the bill was passed 65 to 20. It will now return to the Legislative Council. Greens Newtown MP Jenny Leong thanked MPs for the vote. 'It's wonderful to think that very, very soon, there will be better access to abortion care for people across the state of NSW as a result of the decision we are making today,' she said. 'Sometimes it feels like when you're in this place that we will never get good outcomes for people in their communities, and sometimes we do really good work together. 'I feel like this debate has shown what we can do when we work together in the actually genuine interests of the community that we serve.' In introducing the first reading of the Bill, Ms Leong said it was about 'equity in access to reproductive healthcare – access to abortion services – and increased that access to women and people across the state of NSW'. She urged MPs in the room to, despite their personal opinions, 'actually consider whether or not you're okay with the idea of people in the city having access to better services and more services … than those in regional and rural' An amendment put forward by independent Wagga Wagga MP Joe McGirr requiring nurse practitioners or endorsed midwives have at least two years of experience was not supported by Health Minister Ryan Park or Liberal health spokeswoman Kellie Sloane. The MPs raised the extensive training received by both nurses and midwives, including 5000 hours of clinical practise for nurse practitioners, with Ms Sloane saying the amendment 'makes it even harder for access and equity in regional areas'. 'This amendment is unnecessary. It's inconsistent with health data, ignores the expertise of nurse practitioners and endorsed midwives and it makes harder for our regional, remote communities to access this important healthcare,' she said. They also noted the Bill as tabled was supported by peak medical bodies, including the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association, the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Family Planning Australia Ultimately, the amendment was voted down by MPs. As was a second amendment also put forward by Mr McGirr seeking a 'certain requirement for training' prior to commencing of practise for endorsed midwives and qualified nurses undertaking terminations, facing similar opposition. Mr Park said stipulating specific training requirements was not done with any other health service and would 'mean NSW is inconsistent with the rest of our country and with national guidelines', including the TGA guidelines. Mr McGirr on both counts said he was not seeking to undermine the bill. The Bill initially sought to ensure abortion services be provided across the state within a reasonable distance from residents' homes, and would remove unnecessary reporting to health authorities about the termination. It would also have empowered the Health Minister to compel public health services to comply with directions to offer abortion services and would require practitioners who object to abortion to refer a patient to someone who will. Abortion was decriminalised in NSW only in 2019. Nonetheless, hospitals in the regional centres of Queanbeyan, outside Canberra, and Orange were found to have banned abortions, prompting an apology during budget estimates from NSW Health secretary Susan Pearce. Dr Cohn has previously said the intention of the Bill was to expand who could perform medical terminations which she said was necessary to bring legislation in-line with changes in 2023 to the national medicine regulator. Its introduction has stirred fiery debate since it was tabled. In a parliamentary debate last week, upper house Liberal MP Chris Rath compared abortion to the Nazi genocide of Jews, stating 'it is bizarre that abortion is increasingly being categorised as a human right to health care'. Mr Rath later that week apologised for the statement. The Bill has also stirred protest on the steps outside parliament by anti-abortion campaigner Joanna Howe's coalition, with a Wednesday night protest attended by Tony Abbott and the Catholic archbishop of Sydney, Anthony Fisher. Opposition Leader Mark Speakman accused Dr Howe of 'brazen bullying', stating on Wednesday that he would 'vote according to my conscience and balance difficult and sensitive ethical, social, moral and medical concerns'. 'I will not cave to brazen bullying like this nor to the Americanisation of NSW … I thank all constituents who have contacted me. I have carefully considered their sincere and varying views. I will therefore vote for the Bill,' he said. 'I think that, on balance, the Bill will make no material difference to the rate of abortion in NSW. 'It will not interfere with freedom of conscience and will probably lead to better, not worse, health outcomes for many pregnant women seeking abortions.' Mr Speakman noted some objections were 'based on misinformation' and that, despite stating he would not have supported the original bill, believed 'The attacks on freedom of conscience and freedom of religion in the original bill have now been removed by successful amendments.' Premier Minns earlier on Wednesday stated 'enormous amounts of misinformation and lies that have been spread' on social media had 'whipped up a lot of good people in the community believing that the reform changes, the legislative changes, are far more extensive than they are'.
Perth Now
14-05-2025
- Health
- Perth Now
Major win for abortion access in Aussie state
A Bill seeking to expand access to abortions in NSW, particularity in remote and regional communities, has reached a major milestone after passing the lower house, despite significant changes and claims of misinformation. The Bill, introduced by upper house Greens MP Dr Amanda Cohn in February, would expand access to abortions by allowing nurse practitioners to supply medication to terminate pregnancies of up to nine weeks in gestation. Since being introduced, the Bill has been significantly watered down with amendments specifying the endorsed nurse practitioners and midwives must have the needed skills and training to administer the drug, known as MS-2 Step. Opponents of the Bill – including former prime minister Tony Abbott – have argued against forcing conscientious objectors to actively refer abortion services. That component was removed as the Bill made its way through parliament. NSW Opposition Leader Mark Speakman on Wednesday said he would support the current, amended Bill, as did Labor Premier Chris Minns. The lead-up to Wednesday's vote was marred by allegations of misinformation, but ultimately passed without significant discourse in the lower house after two proposed amendments were shot down by a majority of MPs. A third reading of the bill was passed 65 to 20. The bill was initially introduced by Greens MP Amanda Cohn. NewsWire / Gaye Gerard Credit: News Corp Australia It will now return to the Legislative Council. Greens Newtown MP Jenny Leong thanked MPs for the vote. 'It's wonderful to think that very, very soon, there will be better access to abortion care for people across the state of NSW as a result of the decision we are making today,' she said. 'Sometimes it feels like when you're in this place that we will never get good outcomes for people in their communities, and sometimes we do really good work together. 'I feel like this debate has shown what we can do when we work together in the actually genuine interests of the community that we serve.' In introducing the first reading of the Bill, Ms Leong said it was about 'equity in access to reproductive healthcare – access to abortion services – and increased that access to women and people across the state of NSW'. She urged MPs in the room to, despite their personal opinions, 'actually consider whether or not you're okay with the idea of people in the city having access to better services and more services … than those in regional and rural' Greens Newtown MP Jenny Leong thanked MPs for the vote. NewsWire / Jeremy Piper Credit: News Corp Australia An amendment put forward by independent Wagga Wagga MP Joe McGirr requiring nurse practitioners or endorsed midwives have at least two years of experience was not supported by Health Minister Ryan Park or Liberal health spokeswoman Kellie Sloane. The MPs raised the extensive training received by both nurses and midwives, including 5000 hours of clinical practise for nurse practitioners, with Ms Sloane saying the amendment 'makes it even harder for access and equity in regional areas'. 'This amendment is unnecessary. It's inconsistent with health data, ignores the expertise of nurse practitioners and endorsed midwives and it makes harder for our regional, remote communities to access this important healthcare,' she said. They also noted the Bill as tabled was supported by peak medical bodies, including the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association, the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Family Planning Australia Ultimately, the amendment was voted down by MPs. As was a second amendment also put forward by Mr McGirr seeking a 'certain requirement for training' prior to commencing of practise for endorsed midwives and qualified nurses undertaking terminations, facing similar opposition. Premier Chris Minns said he would support the Bill. NewsWire / Nikki Short Credit: News Corp Australia Mr Park said stipulating specific training requirements was not done with any other health service and would 'mean NSW is inconsistent with the rest of our country and with national guidelines', including the TGA guidelines. Mr McGirr on both counts said he was not seeking to undermine the bill. The Bill initially sought to ensure abortion services be provided across the state within a reasonable distance from residents' homes, and would remove unnecessary reporting to health authorities about the termination. It would also have empowered the Health Minister to compel public health services to comply with directions to offer abortion services and would require practitioners who object to abortion to refer a patient to someone who will. Abortion was decriminalised in NSW only in 2019. Nonetheless, hospitals in the regional centres of Queanbeyan, outside Canberra, and Orange were found to have banned abortions, prompting an apology during budget estimates from NSW Health secretary Susan Pearce. Dr Cohn has previously said the intention of the Bill was to expand who could perform medical terminations which she said was necessary to bring legislation in-line with changes in 2023 to the national medicine regulator. Its introduction has stirred fiery debate since it was tabled. Opposition Leader Mark Speakman backed the amended Bill. Christian Gilles / NewsWire Credit: News Corp Australia In a parliamentary debate last week, upper house Liberal MP Chris Rath compared abortion to the Nazi genocide of Jews, stating 'it is bizarre that abortion is increasingly being categorised as a human right to health care'. Mr Rath later that week apologised for the statement. The Bill has also stirred protest on the steps outside parliament by anti-abortion campaigner Joanna Howe's coalition, with a Wednesday night protest attended by Tony Abbott and the Catholic archbishop of Sydney, Anthony Fisher. Opposition Leader Mark Speakman accused Dr Howe of 'brazen bullying', stating on Wednesday that he would 'vote according to my conscience and balance difficult and sensitive ethical, social, moral and medical concerns'. 'I will not cave to brazen bullying like this nor to the Americanisation of NSW … I thank all constituents who have contacted me. I have carefully considered their sincere and varying views. I will therefore vote for the Bill,' he said. 'I think that, on balance, the Bill will make no material difference to the rate of abortion in NSW. 'It will not interfere with freedom of conscience and will probably lead to better, not worse, health outcomes for many pregnant women seeking abortions.' Mr Speakman noted some objections were 'based on misinformation' and that, despite stating he would not have supported the original bill, believed 'The attacks on freedom of conscience and freedom of religion in the original bill have now been removed by successful amendments.' Premier Minns earlier on Wednesday stated 'enormous amounts of misinformation and lies that have been spread' on social media had 'whipped up a lot of good people in the community believing that the reform changes, the legislative changes, are far more extensive than they are'.
