Key Facts

• South Australia’s upper house passed a bill aiming to criminalize late-term abortions, but the bill failed in the lower house.
• The bill initially banned abortions after 25 weeks unless the mother’s life was at risk; an amendment allowed exceptions for severe fetal abnormalities.
• The majority of abortions in South Australia occur in the first trimester, with fewer than 1% after 23 weeks.
• Abortions after 27 weeks are very rare and require approval from two doctors due to serious health risks.
• The bill was supported by the South Australian premier and opposition leader but opposed by major medical groups.
• Qantas announced that its non-stop Sydney to London flights will now start in October 2027, delayed from earlier planned dates.
• These flights will use a specially built Airbus A350 plane with extra fuel capacity to fly without stopping.
• Qantas plans to start similar non-stop flights from Sydney to New York after the Sydney-London route.