A new bill has been introduced to the New South Wales parliament that would allow nurses and midwives to prescribe abortions.

Greens MP Amanda Cohn, who is also a former GP, introduced the legislation to increase access to pregnancy termination.

The proposed law seeks to ensure that individuals across NSW can access abortion services when they need them.

The bill addresses several key areas.

Allowing nurse practitioners and endorsed midwives to prescribe medical abortions, in accordance with Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) guidelines.

Requiring local health districts to ensure abortion services are accessible.

Removing certain mandatory reporting requirements for health professionals.

Requiring health practitioners with a conscientious objection to refer patients to an abortion provider.

The introduction of the bill follows debates regarding the difficulties in accessing abortions in regional areas.

In the Riverina, for example, there are no public facilities offering surgical abortions, and few practitioners are accredited to administer medical terminations.

According to Dr. Cohn, this creates unacceptable barriers, especially for those who cannot afford private services or travel to other locations.

The bill aims to support people in the Riverina by enabling them to access abortion care closer to home.

The proposed legislation responds to a NSW Health review of the first five years since abortion was decriminalised.

The review included stakeholder feedback and recommendations, such as allowing nurse practitioners, endorsed midwives, and other registered health practitioners to prescribe and provide services according to TGA guidelines.

It also noted that current legislation regarding conscientious objection and referral requirements may not be properly implemented, creating barriers to access, and that mandatory reporting requirements for medical practitioners are considered burdensome.

For the bill to pass, it will need support from either the Labor or Liberal party.