Western Australian teens under 16 will soon be able to have an abortion without having to tell their parents as part of a proposed legislation shake-up.
New legislation will be introduced to the Western Australian parliament next week to allow minors to have an abortion without parental or guardian consent.
WA is currently the only jurisdiction in Australia where under 16-year-olds are required to meet a higher standard of consent for abortions than with other medical care.
The legislation reform will recognise the concept of a “mature minor”, who has the understanding and intelligence to make the decision themselves.
It will also consider circumstances where notifying a parent poses a safety risk is inappropriate or impractical.
“This is about women knowing what is best for them and having a discussion with the health practitioner,” health minister Amber-Jade Sanderson said.
“That decision being between them and them alone.”
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Back in 1998, Western Australia became the country’s first state or territory to decriminalise abortion.
Under the changes, women no longer need a referral to seek an abortion.
The gestational limit for late-term abortion will be raised from 20 to 23 weeks.
After 23 weeks, medical practitioners will be required to consult with another medical practitioner and both need to be satisfied that the circumstances are appropriate for an abortion to be performed.
It removed the ministerial panel for late gestational abortions, and will also remove the requirement for mandatory counselling.
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