ACT to get increased access to abortion

GPs in the ACT can prescribe drugs for medical abortion after the Legislative Assembly passed laws to bring the capital in line with other jurisdictions.

People at the March Together for Choice rally in Brisbane.

A rally to decriminalise abortion washeld ahead of debate in the Queensland parliament this week. (AAP) Source: AAP

GPs in the ACT can now prescribe drugs for medical abortion, bringing the nation's capital in line with other jurisdictions.

The ACT Legislative Assembly passed laws on Wednesday to no longer require an approved facility, such as the Canberra Hospital and Marie Stopes clinic, to terminate pregnancies.

Doctors will now be able to prescribe RU486, for women to chemically trigger a miscarriage at home.

In NSW, QLD, WA, Victoria and Tasmania, women can access medical abortion services to terminate a pregnancy without the need to do so in an approved facility.

Greens MLA Caroline Le Couteur, who introduced the bill, says where a person lives shouldn't affect their access to reproduction healthcare.

"We're pleased that Canberrans will now no longer need travel across the border to Queanbeyan to access these services," she said in a statement on Wednesday.

"This is especially important for those more vulnerable people in our community, including those experiencing domestic violence."


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Source: AAP


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