Public Health Amendment (Safe Access Zones) Act 2021

Public Health Amendment (Safe Access Zones) Act 2021
Parliament of Western Australia
Long title An Act to amend the Public Health Act 2016.
Citation	No. 9 of 2021
Considered by	Legislative Assembly of Western Australia
Considered by	Legislative Council of Western Australia
Royal assent	17 August 2021
Legislative history
First chamber: Legislative Assembly of Western Australia
Introduced by	Roger Cook MLA, Minister of Health
First reading	26 May 2021
Second reading	26 May 2021
Third reading	24 June 2021
Second chamber: Legislative Council of Western Australia
Member(s) in charge	Kyle McGinn MLC
First reading	24 June 2021
Second reading	24 June 2021
Third reading	12 August 2021
Status: Current legislation

The Public Health Amendment (Safe Access Zones) Act 2021 is an act of the Parliament of Western Australia relating to legal protection of access to abortion.

Background

Before the passage of the legislation, staff at a Marie Stopes family planning clinic in a Perth suburb told the Guardian they were being targeted from the moment they drove up to the clinic. ^[1]

In 2019, the establishment of safe access zones was supported by the leader of the opposition, Liza Harvey. ^[2]

Provisions

The legislation establishes buffer zones of 150 metres around abortion service facilities. ^[3] Breaches under the legislation can lead to fines of up to A$12,000 and imprisonment of up to 12 months. ^[4] The restrictions apply at all times. ^[5]

References

1. Davey, Melissa (26 January 2018). "Protect us from anti-abortion protesters, say women's clinics in WA". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 28 February 2018. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
2. Hondros, Nathan (31 July 2019). "Liza Harvey to support controversial abortion clinic 'safe access zones'". WA Today. Archived from the original on 12 July 2025. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
3. Vrajlal, Alicia (13 August 2021). "Protests Outside Abortion Clinics Are Finally Illegal Across All Of Australia". Refinery29. Archived from the original on 7 July 2025. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
4. Coade, Melissa (27 May 2021). "WA parliament considers laws to enshrine safe access to abortion". The Mandarin . Archived from the original on 28 September 2022. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
5. Shine, Rhiannon (12 August 2021). "Abortion clinic protests banned in WA as safe access zones bill approved to protect women". ABC News. Archived from the original on 12 August 2021. Retrieved 12 July 2025.