Activist Rights

Protests at abortion clinics

Estimated reading: 1 minute

There have been some positive restrictions on protest activity in Victoria. In 2015 part 9A was inserted into the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 (Vic) which created ‘safe access zones’ around abortion clinics.

It is now an offence to offence:

  • to interfere with peoples’ rights to access abortion clinics,
  • record people accessing a clinic, or
  • communicate anti-abortion views within these safe access zones. 

These are called ‘prohibited behaviours’.

Engaging in prohibited behaviour within a safe access zone has a maximum penalty of 120 penalty units or 12 months jail – section 185D.

Share this Doc
CONTENTS