Sydney, Australia, Aug 20, 2019 / 10:32 am
A final vote on a bill to decriminalize abortion in the Australian state of New South Wales has been delayed until the middle of September, according to local media reports.
The state's Legislative Council had been scheduled to debate the bill beginning Aug. 20, and the final vote will now take place the week of Sept. 17.
The Reproductive Health Care Reform Bill 2019 would allow abortions for any reason up to 22 weeks of pregnancy; after that, it would allow for abortions if two doctors believe an abortion should be performed "in light of future physical, social and psychological circumstances," according to The Guardian.
Under current law, abortion is only legal in NSW if a doctor determines that a woman's physical or mental health is in danger. "Mental health" has been interpreted by courts to include "economic and social stress."