Outdated Queensland Laws Against Abortion Should Be Reconsidered

Isabella Campos

According to the World Health Organisation, a devastating 68,000 women die annually due to unsafe
abortions. However, despite this staggering statistic, abortion remains a controversial topic. Women
globally have incredibly diverse reasons for their choice to have an abortion, yet unfortunately, not all are
lawfully able to do so. Currently in Queensland, the law against abortion states that the procedure is only
legal if performed purely for the sake of the mother's physical or mental health; no other factors are taken
into account. Furthermore, women that unlawfully have an abortion in Queensland can be liable for up to
seven years imprisonment (Parliament of Australia, 1999). Despite these restrictive laws in Queensland
and New South Wales, abortion is legal in all other states of Australia (Children by Choice, 2016). This
essay will demonstrate why the Queensland Government should alter their laws to allow women to legally
have an abortion.

Firstly, restriction laws do not stop abortions, they merely make it difficult for a woman to have access to a
safe abortion. Is it truly necessary to subject women living in Queensland to impractical measures such as
travelling interstate, purely a procedure that could be carried out closer to home? As stated by Professor de
Costa, from the James Cook University School of Medicine, "In 2014, Children by Choice referred 77
women interstate, with similar organisations making the same type of referrals, so that figure is probably
much higher." In 2009, a Brisbane woman was forced with the situation of carrying out an abortion in her
home, as her baby had abnormalities and was likely to die before birth. However, due to the blurry lines
surrounding the legalities of abortion in the state, she was not able to have the procedure safely carried out
in a Queensland hospital (ABC, 2009). A report from The Lancet, a medical journal, states that countries
with restriction laws have higher abortion rates than that of countries that have legalised abortions. The
median rate of unsafe abortions in the 82 countries with the most restrictive abortion laws is up to 23 of
1000 women compared with 2 of 1000 in nations that allow abortions, (Grimes DA, et al). Women in these
countries are required to perform an unsafe abortion, whereas, despite popular belief, abortion is currently
one of the safest medical procedures when performed correctly. According to the World Health
Organisation (2016), approximately 22 million unsafe abortions are carried out every year. Therefore, not
only does banning abortion fail to stop the act altogether, but instead leads to a higher risk of death and
disabilities for women as the result of unsafe abortions (NLM, 2009).

Another reason a mother may turn to abortion is due to her knowledge that she may not be in a position of
financial stability to raise the child. Although the government recognises that medical issues may be
present, they do not take into consideration many other factors. Forcing a woman who has made the
decision that she is not in an adequate financial state to look after a child to nonetheless have that child,
lays an extreme weight on her and her family's shoulders. If a young fifteen-year-old girl falls pregnant
before she is fully aware of her actions and their potential consequences, it is highly likely that she will face
restrictions in life, such as financially, and in her future education. She may be swept into a cycle of
financial instability, with the expensive costs that come with having a child. This may also result in the baby
possibly being deprived if the mother cannot nurture for her child. Studies have shown that children born of
unwanted pregnancies have significant disadvantages, such as poor relationships with their parents, lower
grades in school, and being slightly overweight (Foster, 2013). Women should be given the option so they
are able to choose for themselves whether they are ready to support a baby to give the child the best
possible life.

From a moral perspective, women should be given the right of choice for her child and body; the
Government shouldnt have the authority to dictate these entitlements. For example, if a woman is raped by
a man and falls pregnant following the sexual dissent, it is highly probable that that woman does not want to
carry and give birth to the child of her rapist. The sexual act was forceful, unauthorised, and the subsequent
consequences should not be the responsibility of the raped woman. A distressing experience such as rape
should not come with further forms of punishment such as presumed responsibilities for a child, and the
mother should simply be given the choice as to whether she will keep her baby. As written in a report about
the trauma for the children born of rape, the conceived child is more likely to develop severe psychological
disorders such as PTSD, anxiety and depression. Furthermore, these children are more likely to develop
poor relationships with their parents, due to the circumstances leading to neglect and unwillingness to care
for the child (Muller, 2016).

A common argument against abortion is that there is no plausible reasoning for this measure due to the
option for adoption. Although it is true that adoption is a potential alternative for those that are unable to
raise a child, that implies that a woman does not want to give birth to a child purely for the avoidance of
raising the child. However, this is most often not the case, as hospital fees alone can be extremely high in
Australia without Medicare (Raising Children Network, 2013). It is also possible that the woman does not
want to deal with the potential trauma following birth then giving up your child, as she may want to keep the
child but cannot afford to raise it. Health is also a factor, both physically and mentally, as a result of not only
childbirth, but carrying a child. Pregnancy inevitably comes hand in hand with the risk of complications for
both mother and child, which can have a range of impacts such as disabilities and death. Pregnancy could
also result in mental health issues for the pregnant mother, resulting from the social stigma on abortion.

In conclusion, there are many reasons that may lead to a woman to make the decision to have an abortion,
all of which should be considered by the Queensland Government. From a moral viewpoint, a woman
should be given the choice to this safe procedure, as she may face financial burdens if she keeps the child,
or she may be pregnant for reasons such as the result of rape. The Government of Queensland should
reconsider their outdated laws in order for Australia to become the progressive nation we aim to be.

Reference List

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