Abortion has been decriminalised in NSW, with MPs describing it as a historic day and the premier missing the final vote because she had to "run the state".
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There was applause in the lower house as the Abortion Law Reform Act 2019 passed its final hurdle on Thursday, a week after Premier Gladys Berejiklian faced down a mutiny from rebel Liberal MPs.
The lower house agreed to a number of key amendments, including on late-term and sex-selective abortions, to overturn the state's 119-year-old law after the bill was passed by the upper house on Wednesday night.
Labor MP Jo Haylen, who co-sponsored the bill, described the vote as "a historic day".
The bill, presented to parliament by Independent MP Alex Greenwich, takes abortion out of the criminal code and allows terminations up to 22 weeks as well as later abortions if two doctors agree.
Ms Berejiklian was not present for the final vote on Thursday, telling reporters she was too busy to be in the chamber for the vote.
"I had to run the state," she said.
"When I'm required to be in the chamber I am, and I had full confidence that the house would resolve it in a positive way."
The bill was opposed by religious groups, anti-abortion activists and several MPs who raised concerns about late-term and sex-selective abortions, conscientious objection and the way the bill was introduced.
Tensions reached a climax last week when Liberal MPs Tanya Davies, Matthew Mason-Cox and Lou Amato threatened, then withdrew, a leadership spill motion against Ms Berejiklian over her handling of the bill.
Australian Associated Press
