Demands for New South Wales to decriminalise abortion

The Greens and women's rights activists are urging the NSW government to follow the example of Queensland and decriminalise abortion.

NSW is the last hold-out after the Queensland parliament on Wednesday night passed laws to legalise abortion up to 22 weeks' gestation after two days of emotional debate.

"NSW is now the last state in Australia where abortion is still technically a crime and it is past time that this outdated and offensive section is removed from the Crimes Act in NSW," NSW Greens MP Cate Faehrmann said.

She added access to safe, affordable and legal abortion services should be a right for all women in NSW.

The call was echoed by Women's rights organisation Fair Agenda.

"The system in NSW is hurting women; it is out of touch and out of date," Fair Agenda's executive director Renee Carr said.

"Queensland's historic reform was just passed with support from members in the ALP, LNP, Greens and an independent. This issue is above partisan politics, and it's time NSW brought its laws out of the dark ages."