A bid to remove abortion from South Australia's criminal code and to create safe zones around abortion clinics has been launched in state parliament.
Greens upper house MP Tammy Franks is introducing a bill to reform abortion laws to ensure it is regulated just like any other medical procedure.
Her proposals will also prevent protests and harassment within 150 metres of medical centres that provide abortion services.
Offenders would face a fine of up to $10,000 or a two-year jail sentence.
"Most South Australians are actually shocked to learn abortion is still in the criminal code here," Ms Franks said on Wednesday.
"This is inappropriate and quite at odds with the public's expectations of how our laws should deal with a health issue."
Ms Franks said that any fears that removing abortion from the criminal code would leave it unregulated were unfounded.
"Health is one of the most regulated parts of our society," she said.
"South Australia was the first Australian state to liberalise access to abortion.
"But where we once led the nation now we lag with laws with 50-year-old laws that are now archaic and actively creating barriers to health care."
Ms Franks said provisions to curtail protests would not stop those opposed to abortion from expressing their views.
"If people wish to protest abortion that is their right, take to the streets, to the steps of parliament, but do not harass patients outside the medical clinics," she said.
