Historical Australian case law on abortion

Historically, Australian case law on abortion has centered on balancing women's reproductive rights with legal restrictions. Early cases, like *R v Davidson* (1969), upheld abortion laws restricting access, emphasizing the protection of fetal life. Over time, courts recognized a woman's right to terminate pregnancy under certain circumstances, notably in *R v Burridge* (1986), which acknowledged personal autonomy. More recent decisions, such as *Penington v Shaw* (2013), affirm that access to lawful abortion is a matter of individual rights within the law. Overall, Australian case law has evolved from strict restrictions to a nuanced recognition of reproductive rights, varying across states and territories.