Media release – Family Planning Tasmania, 27 June 2022

Family Planning Tasmania condemns the overturning of Roe v Wade in the United States

The United States Supreme Court has on Friday decided to overturn the landmark 1973 case of Roe v Wade. Roe v Wade had granted the constitution right for women to access termination of pregnancy. 13 states had trigger bans, and 26 states are ‘certain or likely’ to follow suit and criminalise termination of pregnancy (abortion).

The decision is a major step backwards and a blow to the human rights and health rights for women and people everywhere, says CEO of Family Planning Tasmania, Cedric Manen.

“Women in the United States, and across the world deserve the right to choose what happens with their own bodies. No-one should be forced to carry a pregnancy to term against her will or be forced to undergo an unsafe abortion and risk injury or even death. In many states, even rape or incest does not disqualify a woman from persecution.

“The decision to repeal Roe v Wade shows that even in 2022, we must fight to protect the rights we have fought to win, even decades later. It would be devastating to see Australia’s hard fought rights be undermined by following suit.  It is always the most marginalised who are affected by actions such as these.

“Fortunately, in Australia and Tasmania particularly, abortion access enjoys strong bipartisan support.  Although the overturning of Roe V Wade shows that rights must be continually defended and never taken for granted. At Family Planning Tasmania, we are continually working with the Tasmanian Government and Department of Health to ensure safe and equitable access to termination of pregnancy for all Tasmanians.”

We have a Position Statement on Termination of Pregnancy which outlines our position, as below.

“Family Planning Tasmania believes that termination should be safe, legal and accessible to all Tasmanian women; to protect their basic human rights to health and choice and will act to ensure that these rights are not legally impaired or compromised and that they have access to confidential counselling and services to regulate their fertility; specifically, to protect:

  • HEALTH: to safeguard women’s health, and reduce mortality and morbidity as a result of unsafe and illegal termination; and
  • CHOICE: to ensure that women have the information needed to exercise self-determination, sexual and reproductive freedom and sexual equality.”

“Family Planning Tasmania Inc (FPT) acknowledges that discussion of termination can engender strong responses and that this should not prevent women’s rights from being appropriately respected and supported.

“FPT further believes that:

  • The prevention of unintended pregnancy is of primary importance for women’s health and safe contraceptive methods should be actively promoted to minimise the number of terminations in Australia.
  • Notwithstanding the important role of contraception, access to safe legal termination is an essential component of sexual and reproductive health services.
  • The quality and confidentiality of termination services must be ensured, and other rights of the client respected.
  • It is the responsibility of health service institutions and agencies prescribed under the Act to provide access to termination within the terms of existing Tasmanian legislation.
  • Opportunities to consider personal value systems and their impact on patient support should be included in the training of all medical, nursing and allied health staff.
  • Tasmanian regional access to termination will ensure better patient experience and enhance outcomes.”