Navigating abortion law in Australia is no easy feat.

It's estimated between a quarter and a third of Australian women will choose to terminate a pregnancy at some point in their lives.

But whether or not an abortion is legal depends on where a woman lives, as does the cost and availability of the procedure.

And that's because abortion is regulated by state and territory governments — all of which have different rules and regulations.

Abortion in Australia: A snapshot

Research shows the majority of Australians support laws that allow women to access safe and legal abortions.

However, there is still significant opposition to abortion from parts of the community, including groups such as Right to Life Australia, who say "abortions shouldn't be allowed, because they violate the right to life of the pre-born child".

According to widely cited data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, about 80,000 abortions take place in Australia every year.

But that figure is based on a 2005 paper, and a 2017 ABC investigation found more recent figures point to a reduction in abortions across the country, to a rate as low as 13.5 per 1,000 women — or 65,000 terminations a year.

There are two types of pregnancy terminations available: medical abortions and surgical abortions.

A medical abortion involves taking two pills, mifepristone (also known as RU486 or the "abortion pill") and misoprostol, over a two-day period. In most Australian states, this can be done in a woman's own home.

Medical abortions can generally be performed up to nine weeks into gestation (sometimes longer in hospitals), and have been shown to be highly effective and safe.

A surgical abortion is a low-risk medical procedure that involves removing the lining and contents of the uterus using a gentle suction.

It is most commonly used for first trimester abortion (seven to 12 weeks), but may be performed in the second trimester (12 to 24 weeks) or, in rare circumstances, in the third trimester (24 to 36 weeks).

Abortion laws by state and territory

New South Wales

Abortion has been a criminal offence in New South Wales since 1900 and remains in the NSW criminal code today. Unlawfully procuring an abortion is punishable by up to 10 years' imprisonment.

However, doctors in NSW can administer abortions legally if they believe continuing a pregnancy is a risk to a woman's physical or mental health. A legal precedent set in 1971 means social and economic factors may also be taken into consideration.

Since 2018, it has been illegal to intimidate, harass or film people within 150 metres of an abortion clinic or hospital that provides terminations. This same law applies in Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania and the Northern Territory.

In August 2019, a historic bill to decriminalise abortion in NSW passed the State Parliament's Lower House. If the bill is passed by the Upper House, it will bring NSW abortion laws into line with other states and territories in Australia.

The bill will allow women to access to an abortion in the first 22 weeks of pregnancy, with a provision that terminations beyond that point must be approved by two doctors.

Pro-abortion supporters outside NSW State Parliament on August 6, 2019. ( ABC News: Jonathan Hair )

Queensland

Abortion was legalised in Queensland in 2018 in one of the state's biggest legislative reforms.

Under the new laws, abortion is available, on request, at up to 22 weeks' gestation.

Abortion is also possible after 22 weeks if the medical practitioner performing the termination has consulted with a second medical practitioner and both agreed that "in all the circumstances" the abortion should be performed.

Victoria

Abortion is legal in Victoria in the first 24 weeks of pregnancy.

After 24 weeks, it is still legal, but requires the approval of two doctors. The doctors must agree it is in the patient's best interests, based on her current and future physical, psychological, and social circumstances.

Tasmania

Abortion is legal in Tasmania in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy. After 16 weeks, it is still legal, but requires the approval of two doctors.

The procedure, however, is not widely available.

In 2017, the state's only dedicated low-cost surgical abortion clinic closed, and Tasmania was left without a low-cost service for almost a year.

Since abortions can only be provided in the state's public health system in extraordinary circumstances (e.g. in cases of foetal abnormality), the vast majority of women who access pregnancy termination services do so through the private sector.

In 2018, the Tasmania Government announced it had come to an agreement with a women's health centre to provide low-cost abortions. The service, however, is yet to begin offering services.

Women's health experts told the ABC in March that women in the state were still facing a "hodge-podge" of a system, with some flying interstate for pregnancy terminations.

Where to find help Family Planning Alliance Australia has links to state and territory sexual health services

Family Planning Alliance Australia has links to state and territory sexual health services Marie Stopes Australia operates clinics in Qld, NSW, ACT, Vic, NT and WA

Marie Stopes Australia operates clinics in Qld, NSW, ACT, Vic, NT and WA Pregnancy, Birth and Baby has a helpline to speak to a nurse about your pregnancy options on 1800 882 436

Pregnancy, Birth and Baby has a helpline to speak to a nurse about your pregnancy options on 1800 882 436 Children By Choice has an online tool with questions to ask yourself about your pregnancy

Children By Choice has an online tool with questions to ask yourself about your pregnancy Lifeline provides mental health support on 13 11 14

South Australia

Abortion is legal up to 28 weeks gestation in South Australia if two doctors agree a woman's physical or mental health is endangered by pregnancy, or if there is a risk the child is likely to be born with a serious abnormality.

Abortions must be performed in a hospital or "prescribed facility", which means women in regional South Australia are sometimes required to travel to Adelaide for the procedure.

Pregnant women must also have lived in South Australia for at least two months.

Under South Australian law, a woman can still be charged for obtaining an "unlawful" abortion.

A push to repeal South Australia's abortion law is currently underway, with a coalition lobbying state parliamentarians to remove abortion from the state's crimes act.

Western Australia

Abortion is legal in Western Australia up to 20 weeks into pregnancy, though some restrictions apply.

Women must be given the opportunity to participate in counselling before a termination can be performed. Women under 16 years of age require one parent to be informed.

After 20 weeks, access to abortion is very restricted. A woman must receive approval from two doctors from a statutory panel of six (appointed by the Health Minister) who agree the woman, or her foetus, has a "severe medical condition" that justifies the procedure.

The procedure can then only go ahead in a medical facility approved by the Minister.

Australian Capital Territory

Abortion has been legal in the ACT since 2002, however, it was previously only available through a medical doctor in an approved medical facility.

This meant women in the ACT were limited to seeking terminations at Canberra's sole private provider (at a cost of about $500) or travelling across state lines to NSW where medical abortion drugs could be legally obtained.

That changed earlier this year, when new legislation was passed allowing women to access medical abortion drugs via a prescription from a specially trained GP.

In the ACT, protest-free "privacy zones" were introduced in 2015, making it an offence to protest within 50 metres of an abortion clinic.

Northern Territory

Abortion is legal in the Northern Territory up to 23 weeks of pregnancy with the approval of medical practitioners.

For terminations up to 14 weeks, assessment by one doctor is required. After 14 weeks, approval from two doctors is required.

Beyond 23 weeks gestation, the Pregnancy Law Reform Act stipulates that a pregnant woman's life must be endangered for a pregnancy to be terminated.

Significant cost and access barriers

The vast majority of pregnancy terminations in Australia are carried out in private clinics, except for in South Australia and the Northern Territory, where abortions are mostly free because provision is largely public.

While medical abortion drugs cost less than $40 on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, the total cost of an abortion is often significantly more, once other costs, such as clinic fees and doctors' fees, are factored in.

A 2017 study published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health found the average cost of a medical abortion in Australia was $560 (after the Medicare rebate), and $470 for a first trimester surgical abortion.

As women progressed beyond the first trimester, the average cost of a surgical abortion rose: $1,500 for procedures at 13 to 19 weeks (with the rebate), and $7,700 for procedures beyond 19 weeks.

For some women, there were also other costs for travel and accommodation, GP referrals, medical tests, childcare and lost wages.

According to the study, one in three women reported that they found it difficult or very difficult to pay for their abortion.

Abortion costs also tend to be much higher for women in regional and rural areas, where termination services can be limited.

Telehealth services

Some providers also now offer telehealth medical abortion services.

This involves having a telephone consultation with a doctor, getting a blood test and ultrasound, and, if eligible, being sent abortion drugs in the mail.

But there are some caveats to accessing abortion telemedicine. For example, you must live within two hours of a medical facility and be less than nine weeks pregnant.

Telehealth services are not available to women living in South Australia.

Editor's note: This article was originally published in 2018 and has been updated to reflect legislative changes.