The NSW Government today passed a new bill that would strengthen abortion access across the state.  

The Abortion Law Reform Amendment (Health Care Access) Bill 2025 is intended to strengthen the Abortion Law Reform Act 2019, by allowing nurse practitioners and endorsed midwives to prescribe abortion medication, and requiring greater public reporting of information about abortion access. 

Greens Upper House MP and spokesperson for Health and Western NSW Dr Amanda Cohn introduced the Abortion Law Reform Amendment (Health Care Access) Bill 2025 earlier this year.  

While abortion is legal in NSW, some women experience barriers in accessing medical or surgical termination due to distance and financial barriers.  

The University of Sydney 'Access all Areas: Abortion in Australia' report, which was released in December 2024, found that out of NSW's 220 public hospitals only three (Broken Hill hospital, John Hunter in Newcastle, and Royal Women's Hospital in Sydney) routinely provide abortion services.

The report also found not all abortion services were openly advertised and could often be difficult to find.  

A 2024 report from Family Planning NSW found 37 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in NSW did not have a doctor providing medical abortion scripts.

Many Western Plains App LGAs were on this list, including Bogan, Bourke, Brewarrina, Coonamble, Cobar, Walgett, and Warrumbungle.  

Increased access to abortion medications like MS-2 Step medication will be available under the new rules.

Family Planning also reported that in 2022 there were 10 medical abortion prescriptions issued for every 1000 women in remote NSW, compared to only 4.2 medical abortion prescriptions for every 1000 women in major cities.  

The Bill was passed 25 to 15 in the Legislative Council last week before passing 65 to 20 in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday 14 May.  

Dr Cohn said the Greens were "incredibly proud" to have driven the change.  

“At a time when advocates for women’s rights and reproductive rights have been anxious that our hard-fought rights could be eroded, it’s significant for the NSW Parliament, across party lines, to not only safeguard reproductive rights in NSW, but improve them," said Dr Cohn.  

“Abortion is health care and that has been re-affirmed by the Parliament today."  

Dr Cohn's original proposal required doctors with moral objections to termination be legally required to refer patients to another practitioner who would provide the service.

However this part of the bill was removed due to lack of support in the Upper House.

The original bill also wanted to make it a legal requirement that abortion services be provided within a "reasonable distance" of a person's home, but this was also removed.  

NSW Premier Chris Minns, Opposition Leader Mark Speakman, and Health Minister Ryan Park all voted in support of the new Bill.