Proposed changes to pregnancy termination laws in Tasmania
The Department of Health and Human Services recently released for consultation the draft Reproductive Health (Access to Terminations) Bill setting out a revised legal framework.
Currently, women and doctors who fail to follow specific criteria in relation to pregnancy terminations are guilty of a crime that can attract a prison term. Such laws are out of step with advances in safe medical practices and community expectations. Proposed changes include regulating terminations under health laws and removing criminal sanctions for women and doctors. These are to ensure the law is not a barrier to vital reproductive health services and to improve the health and wellbeing of Tasmanian women.
Reproductive Health (Access to Terminations) Bill
Draft Interim Consultation Report
Public consultation on proposed changes to termination of pregnancy laws in Tasmanian closed on Friday April 5.
During the four week consultation all submissions were read as they were received and the information considered as part of the consultation process.
Submissions were received from around 2050 individuals, with many of these coming from outside of Tasmania. Over 140 submissions were received from organisations.
The Department of Health and Human Services will be loading all submissions from organisations onto the public website over the next two weeks. The loading of individual submissions will also be considered in the coming weeks.
The Department of Health and Human Services wishes to thank all those who provided written responses to the draft Reproductive Health (Access to Terminations) Bill 2013.
Submissions from organisations