Pacific / Papua New Guinea

Australia won't appeal in refugee abortion case

15:39 pm on 11 May 2016

Australia's Immigration Minister Peter Dutton says the government will not fight a court ruling blocking it from providing an abortion in Papua New Guinea for a young refugee raped in Nauru.

According to the Federal Court, the African refugee became pregnant after being raped while she was unconscious and suffering a seizure, and was then flown to PNG for an abortion.

The court last week found that would not be safe or legal, and ordered Mr Dutton not to organise the termination in PNG, saying Australia had a duty of care to the woman who is known as S99.

Mr Dutton told the ABC he would not appeal against the ruling in a higher court.

The court judgement did not require the woman to be brought to Australia, but the Government must now facilitate a safe and legal abortion for her.

Australian Immigration Minister Peter Dutton Photo: AFP