Abortion rights advocates say they have a "sense of hope" after a regional NSW council voted to formally advocate for improved access to abortion in a city long plagued by a lack of services.
At this week's council meeting, seven of eight Wagga Wagga City councillors voted to adopt a 2023 advocacy plan that formally calls on "the state and federal governments, local health district, hospital staff, GPs, and other organisations [to] increase access to medical and surgical abortions".
The city has been previously criticised over a "culture of silence" around abortion by medical practitioners.
Medical abortions are provided by 16 per cent of GPs and at Wagga Wagga Base Hospital, but doctors and services have to send women hours away to access surgical abortions which aren't available outside of emergency care.
"We are sending almost two women away each week into Canberra and Albury to get the service they should be getting in Wagga," Wagga Women's Health Service director Vickie Burkinshaw said.
GP Trudi Beck, who prescribes medical abortions, does the same for women who need surgical care.
"That creates significant expense and logistical challenges for women who are often from low socio-economic backgrounds and that becomes a barrier to them accessing care," Dr Beck said.
Council calls for change
Wagga Wagga mayor Dallas Tout said the council's decision to include abortion provision on the 2023 advocacy plan was motivated by feedback from the community.
"It's a legal entitlement in NSW [and] our community members should be able to access it more readily than they currently can," he said.
Labor councillor Dan Hayes spoke in support of the changes to the plan at the meeting.
"We need surgical abortions to be available at our public hospital, not just after a miscarriage or through the emergency department, but through women making that choice," he said.
He said he hoped other similarly under resourced councils would follow suit.
"There has been inadequate progress made in improving access and availability for abortion services for many in NSW and this needs to change," he said.
Community reacts
The council discussion attracted dozens of anti-abortion advocates to the meeting and a spokesperson asked the council to invest in more counselling, rather than advocate for abortion access.
"Women can feel like they don't actually have a choice and abortion is a quick fix," Wagga resident Clare Enever said.
She also said abortions "hurt women".
Ms Burkinshaw said the decision by the council to vote through the changes despite opposition was "such a relief".
"Having access to safe contraception is a human right," she said.
"I really applaud the council for taking the issue to the advocacy plan and then following through and actually passing it."
Dr Beck said she had recently decided to list medical abortions as a provided service on her practice's website, where previously she was too concerned about the backlash.
She said more GPs breaking the silence, and the council's added voice "is a move in the right direction".
NSW Health Minister Ryan Park committed to an audit of abortion services earlier this month, and the Murrumbidgee Local Health District has established a working party to improve access to abortion.
Their members oversaw the opening of the medical terminations service at the hospital in June 2022, and have said they were investigating options to bring surgical services to the city.
