A BID to change abortion laws and ban late-term terminations in Victoria has failed.

Democratic Labour Party MP Rachel Carling-Jenkins had introduced a Bill for doctors to be prosecuted if they performed abortions on women who were 24 weeks or more pregnant.

The laws also included provisions to force hospitals to provide more support to women in “distress”, and to care for babies born in emergencies after 24 weeks.

Currently, a woman can have an abortion after 24 weeks of pregnancy as long as two doctors have agreed it is appropriate.

A passionate debate in the Legislative Council saw several MPs argue against taking choice away from women, while several in favour of the changes said late-term abortions were cruel.

Opposition spokeswoman for women Georgie Crozier said as a former midwife she found it difficult to support some of the changes in the proposed Bill.

But her colleague Bernie Finn, who is staunchly anti-abortion, argued the practice was an “evil” way to kills babies and “a stain on the state”.

Greens MP Colleen Hartland said she knew women who had lost children during miscarriages and had seen the support work that hospitals already did.

Labor MP Daniel Mulino backed the law change, and said it would not deny the chance for women to have earlier and safer abortions.

Dr Carling-Jenkins said she was disappointed by the lack of support for the Bill, but said the issue would not go away.

She also hit out at people who had taken aim at her religious beliefs, and called for more “faith-filled people” to enter politics.

The Bill was defeated 27 votes to 11.

matthew.johnston@news.com.au