Establishing safe access zones across Australia
PROJECT | Reproductive Rights
The safety and privacy of people seeking reproductive healthcare is now protected across Australia thanks to safe access zone laws.
Abortion is healthcare and healthcare is a human right.
Safe access zones create a 150 metre buffer zone outside health clinics that provide abortion services. They are designed to protect the privacy, safety, dignity and wellbeing of patients and staff. Prohibited behaviour inside a zone includes harassment and intimidation, communicating in a way that is reasonably likely to cause distress or anxiety, and filming without consent.
The laws put an end to the harmful and distressing harassment and intimidation of women outside reproductive health clinics.
In 2015, we partnered with Dr Susie Allanson, who worked as a clinical psychologist at Melbourne Fertility Control Clinic for 26 years, to push for laws which protected women accessing services and also for the dedicated staff working in abortion clinics in Victoria. Together with Dr Allanson and Maurice Blackburn, we defended these hard-fought wins in the High Court in 2019.
"Since the safe zones came into effect, women and staff are no longer a target when they walk up to the clinic, and women no longer carry the heavy burden of being publicly attacked for seeking medical care. This is a great result that enshrines respect for women’s choices."
This landmark achievement of establishing safe access zones in Australia is a testament to the tireless work of community advocates, dedicated healthcare providers and of course, the many women who shared their stories over many years.
Safe access zone laws timeline
- Western Australia safe access zone laws pass in August 2021
- South Australia legislates safe access zones in November 2020
- Victorian safe access zone laws are defended at the High Court in April 2019
- Queensland safe access zone laws are introduced with the decriminalisation of abortion in October 2018
- NSW guarantees in law safe and private access to reproductive healthcare in June 2018
- Northern Territory legislates safe access zone laws in March 2017
- Victorian Parliament ensures women’s safe and private access to abortion clinics in November 2015
- ACT legislates safe access zones in November 2015
- Tasmania legislates safe access zones in December 2013
Acknowledgement of Country
The Human Rights Law Centre acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands across Australia, including the lands of the Wurundjeri, Boon Wurrung, Gadigal, Ngunnawal, Darug and Wadawurrung people where we work from.
We pay our respect to Elders past and present. This land always was, and always will be Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land. Sovereignty has never been ceded.
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