Progress towards safe access zones in Western Australia

Safe access zones are now one step closer to becoming law in Western Australia after members of the WA Legislative Assembly voted in favour of the Public Health Amendment (Safe Access Zones) Bill 2021 on Thursday. 

The laws aim to create protective areas around abortion services where intimidating and harassing behaviour targeted at patients and staff is prohibited. They now need to pass the WA Legislative Council before they become law.

The Human Rights Law Centre’s Associate Legal Director Monique Hurley said:

“Safe access zone laws will play a critical role in promoting equality and protecting people’s right to access healthcare safely once passed by the WA Parliament. For far too long, people in WA have had to run a gauntlet of abuse to see their doctor. 

“Western Australia is the only state in Australia without safe access zone laws. These laws passed by the Legislative Assembly are modelled on Victoria’s laws and represent best practice. 

“We thank the members of the Legislative Assembly who supported the safe access zone laws, and urge all members of the upper house to do the same and stand up for reproductive rights. 

“Until safe access zones are in place, anti-abortionists outside abortion care services can continue to cause fear and serious distress to patients and staff. This reform is long overdue, and the laws should proceed to the Legislative Council as a matter of priority.”

The next step will be for the McGowan government to fully decriminalise abortion. Western Australia is the only state in Australia that still uses the criminal law to regulate abortion care. Outdated hurdles to accessing abortion care in Western Australia force people in distressing situations to fly interstate to access services.

“Access to a safe, legal abortion is a critical healthcare right. Until abortion is removed completely from the criminal law in Western Australia, pregnant people’s reproductive health will continue to be compromised. The McGowan government must remove all barriers to timely reproductive healthcare in Western Australia,” Hurley said.

Media contact:

Evan Schuurman, Media and Communications Manager, 0406 117 937, evan.schuurman@hrlc.org.au