Victoria
Abortion Death Toll
An estimated 16,000–17,000 children every year
Abortion rates in Victoria are not reported, and so we can only estimate the number of deaths caused by abortion. Based on official New South Wales and South Australia data, an estimated16,000–17,000children are aborted every year in Victoria.
Legislation
Abortion is legal up to 24 weeks in Victoria under the Abortion Law Reform Act 2008.
According to the Act:
- Up to 24 weeks gestation, a registered medical practitioner may abort a preborn child without any restrictions. Abortion pills may also be prescribed/administered by a registered pharmacist or a registered nurse.
- After 24 weeks gestation, a preborn child may be aborted if two registered medical practitioners, after considering all relevant medical circumstances and the woman’s current and future physical, psychological and social circumstances,agree that the abortion is “appropriate”. These broad categories for consideration make it extremely easy for a woman in Victoria to abort her child up to birth.
Buffer Zones Around Abortion Clinics
Part 9A of the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 places a 150 metre safe access zone around all premises that provide abortions.
Within a safe access zone, it is an offence to:
- protest abortion laws
- interfere with any person’s access an abortion clinic (e.g. to attempt to dissuade someone from entering an abortion clinic)
- record a person approaching, entering or leaving an abortion clinic
It is unclear whether silently praying inside a buffer zone is an offence.
Maximum penalty: 120 penalty units or 12 months imprisonment.