Victorian Premier John Brumby says he's pleased to see legislation to decriminalise abortion pass through the upper house.

Mr Brumby, who supported the legislation when it was passed in the lower house, spoke to reporters after the vote was passed 23-17 in the Legislative Council this morning.

"We'll now have in place in Victoria legislation that will take abortion out of the criminal code,'' Mr Brumby said.

"So I am pleased to see the result. It was a strong vote in the lower house, it's a comfortable majority in the upper house.''

Mr Brumby said there had been good debate in parliament before MPs held conscience votes and a good outcome had been achieved.