Women up to 22 weeks’ pregnant could soon have unfettered legal access to abortions in NSW, under proposals that will be introduced to the state’s parliament this week.

Currently, NSW is the only jurisdiction in Australia where abortion is treated as a criminal offence, explicitly listed as a crime with penalties of up to 10 years’ imprisonment.

To receive an abortion in the state, women need a certificate from a doctor indicating they believe the pregnancy presents a risk to their physical or mental health.

But that could be about to change, under a private members bill entering NSW Parliament this week with the backing of the AMA and NSW Minister for Health Brad Hazzard.