Latest developments and events
Latest developments and events
Regulations for the delivery of abortion care under the Termination of Pregnancy Act (SA) 2021 were signed off on 23 June 2022, which means the new law can go into operation, starting on 7 July 2022. The legislation was passed by the SA Parliament in March 2021 but it has taken 15 months for the government to draft and finalise the regulations needed to put it into operation.
Read our media releases
Current
23 June 2022 – New abortion law takes effect on 7 July 2022
Past media releases
2 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?
Past media coverage
Greens MLC Tammy Franks speaks with Peter Goers on ABC 891 about why it’s time to decriminalise abortion – and how we do it, 26 February 2019
“Women and their doctors are pushing change the law in a state where most women can get an abortion for free. Here’s why” – BuzzFeed, 26 February 2019
“Conscience abortion vote likely to be given to South Australian MPs” – ABC News, 5 December 2018
“Labor pledges to overhaul abortion access in all Australian states” – The New Daily, 2 December 2018
“Where Australian states are up to in decriminalising abortion” – by saaac member Erica Millar for The Conversation, 13 September 2018
On September 12, 2018, saaac member Catherine Kevin spoke with Radio Adelaide about why abortion needs to be treated like any other health service
“Renewed push to change ‘discriminatory’ and ‘inadequate’ abortion laws in South Australia” – ABC News, 11 October 2018
“Renewed push to change ‘discriminatory’ and ‘inadequate’ abortion laws in South Australia” – ABC News on October 11, 2018
South Australian Abortion Action Coalition 
