Angus Reid Global Monitor : Polls & Research

Australians Divided Over Abortion Regulations

January 15, 2005

(Angus Reid - CPOD Global Scan) - Adults in Australia are split over the country's pregnancy termination guidelines, according to a Newspoll published in The Australian. 50 per cent of respondents believe abortion should be allowed to any woman in any circumstances, while 40 per cent would permit the practice only in cases of psychological or medical harm.

In Australia, state laws regulate pregnancy termination. Surgical abortions in the early stages of pregnancy are usually accessible, and the procedure can be partially reimbursed under the government-funded health care plan. The RU486 drug used to induce abortions is banned in the country.

Support for late term abortions is significantly lower, with only 16 per cent of respondents backing the practice in any circumstance after 20 weeks of pregnancy.

Polling Data

Thinking now about the topic of abortion, which one of the following options regarding abortion are you yourself most in favour of? Should abortion be...

Not allowed under any circumstances

7%

Only allowed if it is proven that the
pregnancy will cause psychological
or medical harm to the mother

40%

Allowed to any woman on demand
in any circumstances

50%

Uncommitted

3%

Thinking just about late term abortions, that is, those occurring after 20 weeks of pregnancy, which one of the following options regarding late term abortion are you yourself most in favour of? Late term abortion should be...

Not allowed under any circumstances

20%

Only allowed if it is proven that the
pregnancy will cause psychological
or medical harm to the mother

61%

Allowed to any woman on demand
in any circumstances

16%

Uncommitted

4%

Source: Newspoll / The Australian
Methodology: Telephone interviews to 1,200 Australian voters, conducted from Dec. 17 to Dec. 19, 2004. Margin of error is 3 per cent.

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