Proposed Australia Law Would Force Christian Hospitals to Do Abortions

Catholic hospitals in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, could soon be forced to provide abortion services or face closure under a proposed amendment to the state’s abortion laws.

The legislation, introduced by Greens Member of the Legislative Council Amanda Cohn, would make it mandatory for most public hospitals in NSW to offer abortions, Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) News reported.

Currently, NSW hospitals are only required to provide “referral pathways” for women seeking abortion services. The Abortion Law Reform Act 2019, which decriminalized abortion in NSW, allows hospitals to opt out of performing the procedure themselves.

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Cohn’s proposed amendment to the Act would change this, requiring local health districts (LHDs) to ensure abortion procedures are available within a “reasonable distance” of every resident. While smaller health facilities may be exempt, most hospitals — including Catholic institutions — would be legally required to perform abortions.

Cohn cited “heart-wrenching stories of people being turned away from public hospitals” as a key reason for the amendment. Her proposal also mandates that LHDs publicly share information about abortion services in their regions, responding to claims that women seeking abortions often struggle to find clear information.

The amendment also would eliminate the current requirement for doctors to report abortions to the Ministry of Health within 28 days, which Cohn claims deters some healthcare professionals who aspire to become abortionists.

LifeNews Note: Rachel Quackenbush writes for CatholicVote, where this column originally appeared.