The Australian College of Midwives opposes proposed legislative changes in South Australia limiting access to abortion after 23 weeks. It is a step in the wrong direction.
ACM reiterates its longstanding commitment to supporting safe, legal, and timely access to abortion care as an essential part of reproductive healthcare.
Midwives play a vital role in supporting women and birthing people across the reproductive continuum, and ensuring access to safe abortion services is fundamental to delivering comprehensive, compassionate care.
“Abortion care is a healthcare issue, not a political one,” said Alison Weatherstone, Chief Midwife of the Australian College of Midwives. “Women seeking abortion deserve timely, respectful and compassionate care guided by clinical best practice. Decisions about pregnancy should be made in consultation with qualified health practitioners, not through political processes.”
ACM remains committed to advocating for reproductive autonomy and equitable access to safe, legal and timely abortion services across all regions of Australia. Decisions about termination of pregnancy after 23 weeks are complex and deeply personal. They must be made by women and their health practitioners, not by politicians.
The ACM endorses the implementation of the 36 recommendations from the Senate Inquiry into Universal Access to Reproductive Healthcare. These include:
- Recognising abortion as essential healthcare
- Ensuring equitable access in all communities, including rural and remote areas
- Funding abortion services appropriately through Medicare
- Supporting the workforce delivering sexual, reproductive and maternal health services
As the national voice for midwives and the midwifery profession, ACM will continue to advocate for reproductive justice and for the right of every person to make informed decisions about their own body, health and future.
For ACM’s Position Statement on Women’s Reproductive Rights, click here.
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