RACGP Warns Against New Abortion Restrictions Following SA Debate
19 Jun 2026
The debate gained national attention this week as South Australian politicians considered changes to abortion laws, while One Nation leader Pauline Hanson also raised concerns about abortion access during a speech at the National Press Club.
In South Australia, Family First MP Sarah Game proposed changes that would have restricted abortions after 25 weeks to cases where the pregnant person's life was at risk or where the foetus had conditions considered incompatible with survival after birth.
The proposal passed the state's upper house but was later rejected by the lower house, with MPs voting 36 to nine against the changes.
RACGP South Australia Deputy Chair Dr Clare Keogh welcomed the result, saying the current laws already provide strong safeguards for patients and healthcare professionals.
She said most GPs support abortion care and view it as an important part of healthcare. According to Dr Keogh, abortions after 22 weeks and six days account for less than 1% of all abortions and are generally linked to serious health concerns affecting either the pregnant person or the foetus.
Dr Keogh said requiring two doctors to agree with the patient before a later-term abortion can proceed already provides a robust process and that further restrictions could make access more difficult and potentially less safe.
She also said ongoing political debate around abortion can be distressing for patients facing complex and personal healthcare decisions.
Meanwhile, Senator Hanson told the National Press Club there were too many abortions occurring in Australia and expressed concerns about abortions later in pregnancy. She said she believes abortions after 20 weeks are too late but stopped short of proposing a specific legal limit.
Dr Keogh said comments about later-term abortions often do not reflect the reality of clinical practice. She explained that these procedures are usually associated with serious medical circumstances, including severe risks to the pregnant person or situations where the foetus is unlikely to survive after birth.
She said the focus should remain on ensuring patients can make informed decisions with support from their healthcare team.
According to Dr Keogh, the discussion is ultimately about protecting patient choice and autonomy while allowing healthcare decisions to be guided by clinical advice.
RACGP Warns Against New Abortion Restrictions Following SA Debate
Source: RACGP newsGP