1. The laws regulating termination of pregnancy encompassed in the Medical Services Act and Criminal Code Act are out of date.

2. The Northern Territory is the only jurisdiction in Australia in which medical termination of pregnancy (with Mifepristone and Misoprostol herein referred to as ‘RU486’ ) is unavailable.

3. The World Health Organisation’s Model List of Essential Medicines lists the ru486 combination.

4. The Therapeutic Goods Administration approved RU486 to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme on 30 June 2013. 

COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS AND YOUR PETITIONERS THEREFORE HUMBLY PRAY:

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1. That all reference to termination of pregnancy or abortion in any form be removed from the Criminal Code Act.

2. That the Medical Services Act be amended to clarify that medical termination of pregnancy, including RU486, can be administered by appropriately qualified medical practitioners (including accredited general practitioners) in the Northern Territory, including outside of a hospital setting.

3. That the laws be amended so that a minor’s capacity to give consent be assessed by an appropriately qualified medical practitioner and if capable, give consent for termination. If deemed incapable of providing such consent only one person having authority in law be sufficient to provide consent on behalf of the minor.

4. That the laws be amended to ensure doctors who have a conscientious objection to termination refer a woman to a medical practitioner who does not hold such an objection as soon as practicable. 

5. That the Medical Services Act be amended to only require the approval of one medical practitioner to approve termination of pregnancy up to the first 14 weeks of pregnancy and a woman should not be required to justify that termination is necessary to prevent physical and mental harm to herself.

 AND YOUR PETITIONERS, AS IN DUTY BOUND, WILL EVER PRAY.