Australia's Largest State Lifts Abortion Restrictions
Enlarge this image toggle caption Brook Mitchell/Getty Images Brook Mitchell/Getty Images
Lawmakers in Sydney have voted to decriminalize abortion in the country's most populous state, overturning legal restrictions that have been in place since the start of the 20th century.
On Thursday, lawmakers in New South Wales voted to pass the Abortion Law Reform Act 2019. The bill will allow women to get abortions up to 22 weeks into a pregnancy and will abolish any common law rules relating to abortion.
"Unlawful abortion" has been in the state's criminal code since 1900. Women were allowed to terminate pregnancies only if a medical practitioner agreed that her physical or mental health was at risk.
According to Parliament members, the bill was debated for nearly 70 hours in both houses and went through several amendments.
Alex Greenwich, an independent member of Parliament, drafted the bill. He spoke on the house floor as the bill was read.
"It follows decades of work from women's rights campaigners, activists and people in the Parliament," said Greenwich.
The abortion-rights bill passed in the face of massive anti-abortion protests in New South Wales. In the weeks leading up to the historic vote, Australian abortion opponents organized public rallies featuring prominent conservative voices, such as former Prime Minister Tony Abbott.
"It is a license for sex-selection abortions. It is a license for late-term abortion," said Abbott. "It is effectively infanticide on demand."
Jenny Leong, a representative for the Greens party, applauded the bill and spoke about what the passage means for women's rights.
"Today we have moved closer to the idea of realizing gender equality for all in this state," said Leong.
Enlarge this image toggle caption James Gourley/Getty Images James Gourley/Getty Images
New South Wales was one of only two states in Australia with abortion restrictions on the books. The state of South Australia still requires that two doctors agree that a woman's pregnancy endangers their mental or physical health and that unlawful abortion is punishable by law, according to Children By Choice Australia.
Yesterday, the  of New South Wales (NSW), Australia voted to pass the "Reproductive Health Care Reform Bill 2019" which decriminalized abortion.  Until the new legislation, NSW had the most restrictive anti-abortion law in Australia.  The NSW legislature in Sydney abolished any existing  rules about abortion and legalized terminations up to week 22 of a pregnancy.
marriage equality in 2017 
Since 1900, under the state's criminal code, abortions were only allowed if a doctor determined the mother was in danger, either mentally or physically. The bill was drafted by  who said on the parliament floor, "It follows decades of work from women's rights campaigners, activists and people in the Parliament". The upper house debate involved 102 amendments, and was amongst the longest they have ever debated a bill.

Member of parliament (MP)  said a law allowing the termination of a life marked a "sad day for NSW". Former prime minister Tony Abbott said, "It is a license for sex-selection abortions. It is a license for late-term abortion ... It is effectively infanticide on demand." 

MP , who co-sponsored the bill, said, "The current law has meant women and doctors have a threat of 10 years in jail for making this decision and that's not okay". Early opponent MP  said, "We have moved the bill to a better place".

Premier  was not present at the bill's final vote.

New South Wales is the most populated Australian state. The state of South Australia still limits abortions to cases with two doctors' approval.