Health (Abortion Law Reform) Amendment Bill 2016

Overview

This bill proposed to reform Queensland's abortion laws by setting clear rules on who can perform terminations, when abortions after 24 weeks are allowed, and by creating safe access zones around clinics. Introduced by independent MP Rob Pyne, the bill was withdrawn and did not become law.

Who it affects

Women seeking abortions, doctors and nurses providing them, and people who protest outside clinics would all have been affected, but because the bill was withdrawn, none of these changes took effect.

Key changes

• Only doctors (and nurses acting under a doctor's written direction) would be able to perform abortions, with up to 10 years imprisonment for unqualified people
• Abortions after 24 weeks would require two doctors to agree that continuing the pregnancy poses greater health risk than terminating it
• Doctors and nurses could refuse to participate on conscience grounds, except in life-threatening emergencies
• The Health Minister would declare safe access zones of at least 50 metres around abortion clinics
• Harassing, filming, or protesting against people entering or leaving clinics would become an offence, with fines up to 25 penalty units and up to 6 months imprisonment for publishing patient images