The Bill which will see abortion removed from the Crimes Act and the legal test for the procedure scrapped has passed its final stage. The conscience vote about the polarising Abortion Legislation Bill passed its third reading with 68 in favour and 51 votes opposing. The Abortion Legislation Bill now goes to the Governor General for Royal Assent and will then be law. The Abortion Legislation Bill removes abortion from the Crimes Act and drops any legal test for having the procedure earlier than 20 weeks, leaving the decision up to the woman and her doctor. The current legal test is for two doctors to approve an abortion only if there was "serious danger" to the woman's physical or mental health.

Source: Otago Daily Times March 18, 2020 07:30 UTC