Legal Recognition of Persons Born as a Result of an Abortion
Public Health Amendment (Born Equal - Care and Protection) Bill 2025
Private Member's BillLegislative Council
Legislative Assembly
Assent
Introduced by: Maryka Groenewald MLC (AC)
Links to official parliament websites
Effects of this bill
If this bill passes, it means that:
The law now defines a person to include those born as a result of an abortion.
Health practitioners must provide the same level of medical care to a person born as a result of an abortion as they would for any other person.
Medical practitioners can provide any care that is clinically safe and appropriate for a person born as a result of an abortion.
Neonatal deaths of persons born as a result of an abortion are now reportable deaths under the Coroners Act.
The law defines 'born' as a person who has completely proceeded in a living state from the body of the mother.
The Debate
What different members said when this bill was debated:
“I move: That the bill be now read a second time. I rise today to introduce the Public Health Amendment (Born Equal - Care and Protection) Bill 2025. It is the first of its kind in Western Australia. This bill means a lot to me and the people who have followed this issue with heavy hearts for more than a decade.”