New South Wales Health is refusing to detail what work it is doing to improve access to abortion services at public hospitals across the state.
The department is reviewing its policies governing termination of pregnancy, after its own report on the state’s current abortion laws specifically recommended that ways to balance the rights of conscientiously objecting health practitioners with a woman’s entitlement to receive timely care be examined.
But it is not clear, and NSW Health has declined to comment on, how the availability of these services across the state is being addressed.
Greens MLC Amanda Cohn said more action by the department was required.
Amanda Cohn says the issue should be treated with more urgency. (ABC Sydney: Andrew Whitington)
“In the five years since abortion was decriminalised in New South Wales we haven’t seen sufficient action from New South Wales Health to actually make sure that services are provided,” she said.
Access to abortion services was thrust into the spotlight in late 2024 when certain restrictions were temporarily in place at Orange and Queanbeyan hospitals.
The suspension of terminations with no identified pregnancy complications at Orange was attributed to a “misinterpretation” of local guidelines, and internal correspondence seen by the ABC stated that the hospital was adhering to state policy.
A makeshift banner stuck to a sign outside Orange Health Service last year. (ABC Central West: Micaela Hambrett)
Legislative review
A statutory review of the Abortion Law Reform Act 2019 was completed by the Ministry of Health last September and tabled in parliament in November.
Its terms of reference were to consider whether the legislation was operating successfully, with particular consideration given to who can perform abortions, counselling requirements and conscientious objections.
But access to terminations was “outside the scope of the review”.
“The ministry will consider this content in relation to access and pathways to abortion care,” the report said.
Health Minister Ryan Park recently said an “urgent review” of NSW Health policy was starting in March. (ABC News)
The ABC asked NSW Health what was being done to address access concerns.
The department declined to comment and instead referred to a previous media statement which confirmed a policy review was being done.
Dr Cohn has introduced an amendment to the NSW legislation, and one of its key pillars is ensuring abortion services are available at public hospitals, or within a reasonable distance for people to access.
She said she was disappointed with the time it was taking the government and NSW Health to take action.
“This issue still isn’t being treated with the urgency and with the seriousness it deserves,”
Dr Cohn said.
“Business as usual has gotten us into this terrible mess where people have been turned away from public hospitals for services that hospital has the technical capability to provide.
“That doesn’t meet at all with community expectations that most public hospitals would provide abortion care.
“I don’t have confidence in a business as usual approach from the ministry of health.”
NSW Health Minister Ryan Park declined to be interviewed by the ABC.
At a budget estimates hearing on February 27, Mr Park was questioned about what he was doing to ensure services were being provided consistently.
“There are immediate initiatives to boost consumer information and awareness … that includes financial assistance to address access barriers, particularly barriers for priority groups,” Mr Park told the hearing.