As the state government prepares to modernize the state’s archaic abortion laws, Western Australians are being urged to give their say.
Washington’s abortion laws have stayed unchanged for nearly 25 years, requiring some women to go out of state to get care that is either illegal or difficult to obtain in Washington.
According to the McGowan administration, revising the law will eliminate clinically unnecessary hurdles to women’s access to abortion treatment and align Washington with other states.
Changes proposed include decriminalizing abortion, expanding the gestational limit for a procedure from 20 to 24 weeks, eliminating obligatory counseling, and eliminating the requirement for a referral from a primary care physician.
Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson stated, “We want to hear from the community, mainly women who have experienced the hardships of the current regulations and also practitioners who must work under the current framework.”
We want to hear about their experience and their thoughts on how abortion should be regulated in Western Australia.
Last year, the state of Washington passed a law permitting safe access zones for women seeking abortions, prohibiting picketing within 150 meters of institutions offering termination services.
Simone McGurk, Minister of Women’s Interests, stated that the amendments will be a major step in enhancing access to abortion care.
She stated, “Abortion is an essential aspect of women’s healthcare; it is a right that must be vigorously safeguarded.”
“Safety, privacy, and dignity are essential when seeking an abortion,”
I urge women to have their voices heard to ensure that the legislation remains effective.
The law is anticipated to be presented to the legislature in 2023.