Latest developments
On 23 November 2025 the Termination of Pregnancy (Restriction on Terminations After 22 Weeks and 6 Days) Amendment Bill 2025 was defeated 11-8 in the Legislative Council. This anti-abortion bill, introduced by independent MLC Sarah Game, sought to ban abortion after 23 weeks except if there was a significant risk of fetal abnormalities, to save the life of the expectant mother, or to save the life of another fetus. It was strongly opposed by saaac and its allies.
On 16 October 2024 the Termination of Pregnancy (Terminations and Live Births) Amendment Bill 2024 was narrowly defeated 10-9 in the Legislative Council. This anti-abortion bill, introduced by Liberal MLC Ben Hood, would have amended the law to ensure that abortion care was inaccessible after 27 weeks and six days, with doctors instead required to induce labour with the goal of a live birth. It was strongly opposed by saaac and its allies, including peak legal and health professional bodies.
Regulations for the delivery of abortion care under the Termination of Pregnancy Act (SA) 2021 were signed off on 23 June 2022, which means decriminalised abortion care commenced on 7 July 2022. The legislation was passed by the SA Parliament in March 2021 but it took 15 months for the government to draft and finalise the regulations needed to put it into operation.
On 2 March 2021, abortion decriminalisation legislation passed the SA Parliament, removing abortion from the Criminal Law Consolidation Act.
Read our media releases
23 June 2022 – New abortion law takes effect on 7 July 20222 March 2021 – Historic Abortion Bill passes – abortion decriminalised in SA
19 February 2021 – saaac welcomes the passing of the Termination of Pregnancy Bill in the House of Assembly
17 February 2021 – saaac fears unnecessary and harmful amendments will undermine the purpose of the Termination of Pregnancy Bill
16 February 2021 – saaac welcomes commencement of debate on the Termination of Pregnancy Bill in the Lower House
15 February 2021 – Experts and community groups back public call for abortion reform
6 February 2021 – saaac calls on South Australians to show their support for safe abortion care
11 November 2020 – Health Care (Safe Access) Amendment Bill passes
3 December 2020 – Bill to decriminalise abortion passes legislative council
14 October 2020 – saaac welcomes the introduction of a Bill to decriminalise abortion in South Australia
28 September 2020 – Today is International Safe Abortion Day
23 September 2020 – Safe Access Zones Bill passes the House
(See also the Safe Access Zones voting record to find out how your local Member voted on the Bill)
22 July 2020 – More delays in abortion reform
17 June 2020 – Safe Access Zones bill delayed in Parliament
3 June 2020 – Safe Access Zone Bill introduced to Parliament
31 March 2020 – COVID 19 and access to abortions in South Australia
24 March 2020 – New Zealand decriminalises abortion in the context of COVID-19, saaac urges South Australia to do the same
9 February 2020 – Bill to ensure Safe Access Zones around abortion services in SA will be re-introduced in the lower house
6 December 2019 – SA Law Reform Institute’s recommendations to treat abortion as a health service rather than a crime welcomed by the South Australian Abortion Action Coalition
15 November 2019 – We welcome the passing of the Health Care (Health Access Zones) Amendment Bill 2019 in the Legislative Council last night
14 November 2019 – saaac welcomes the SA government’s commitment to decriminalise abortion as Safe Access Zones are debated in parliament
2 October 2019 – Abortion Decriminalised in NSW
24 September 2019 – Bill to introduce Safe Access Zones for abortion services in SA
4 December 2018 – Abortion Decriminalisation Bill
14 December 2018 – Labor pledge for free and accessible abortion
18 October 2018 – Abortion decriminalised in Queensland. South Australia next?
South Australian Abortion Action Coalition 
