When we think of Australia, we think of the land of the free. A liberal place where laws are lax and women have agency over their own bodies. However, that isn't exactly true. In fact, in Australia, abortion is still not 100% illegal, and it's certainly not destigmatised either. But an historic victory overnight means women in the Northern Territory can have access to abortion pill RU486 and medical termination.
There's a number of reasons we can draw parallels between this remote part of Australia and Ireland: both have (until yesterday) strict abortion laws in place, albeit in the NT there were a handful of doctors who could perform the procedure, both are home to women who can't travel for a range of reasons, both have ethnic minorities who are at higher risk of complications without the procedure, and in both places, women are being attacked for wanting it.
The Northern Territory is home to 24% of native Aboriginal people in Australia, with many living in rural areas far from Darwin (the capital city), and until yesterday women were dying in these areas due to fatal defects and other complications as a result. Double the amount of Aboriginal women die in childbirth compared to non-indigenous women.
Under the new laws, the Northern Territory Parliament has decriminalised abortion and legalised the medical termination of pregnancy. Medical and surgical terminations may now be performed outside of hospitals, and there will be safe access zones established around hospitals and clinics to protect women needing the procedure.
According to the ABC, a crowd of supporters cheered in the public gallery when the bill passed 20 votes to four.
Health Minister Natasha Fyles said, "We believe all ... women are entitled to control over their lives and access to high-quality services.
"[Under this legislation] they'll have access to medical termination such as the drug RU486 that other Australian women have access to".
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Chief Minister Michael Gunner said the bill was about equality for all women - a basic right Irish women have been asking for, too.
"It's my belief that existing legislation unintentionally discriminates against [these] women," he said.
"We have led the nation in progressive reform, unfortunately on this issue we have lagged intolerably behind, and to determent to rights and health of [our] women". Wouldn't it be nice to hear these words in Irish Parliament?
But just like in Ireland, Territory women faced backlash from naysayers who think decriminalising abortion will lead to women using the procedure as some sort of sick game.
"It will make abortion more accessible and I have no doubt will increase the number of abortions in the Territory," MP Gerry Wood said.
"Why can't we say we will do something about protecting the unborn?" Sigh.
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Thankfully the Chief Health Minister Mr Gunner said the bill meant women in remote areas can now access their right to an abortion without leaving family supporters, something Irish women who have had to go to the UK know all too well.
"We hear of women forced to travel interstate to terminate pregnancies, going across state lines or indeed for those travelling from remote places to [the city], it may mean women are without support of family and friend at an incredibly vulnerable and difficult time," he said.
If anything, this story should give us hope that Ireland will be able to do the same.
What are your thoughts?
Also read: FEATURE: A Warning To Anyone Considering A Backpacking Trip To Australia
