Abortion law

Victoria is one step closer to a more liberal abortion regime after landmark legislation was passed early this morning after a marathon session in the Legislative Assembly.

The Bill was passed 48-28 after 41 admendments were moved and defeated in a marathon sitting that ended at 12.48am.

The next hurdle is the upper house, where debate is due to begin next month and a tighter vote is expected.

After it was passed, Health Minister Daniel Andrews told Parliament that the debate had been "complex and challenging".

"But I think it has been conducted in a spirit that I think does every member and this institution great credit," he said.

Nationals leader Peter Ryan, who opposed the Bill, said the debate was conducted in the right spirit.

The Spanish government has appointed a group of experts to advise on liberalizing abortion law by the end of 2009 or early 2010, the equality minister said on Thursday.

"We can't have a situation where a woman who needs to terminate a pregnancy can have legal problems," Bibiana Aido said.

"That's why we need a serious, calm and high-level debate which contributes to the drawing up of the best law possible."

Spain decriminalized abortion in 1985, 10 years after the death of right-wing dictator Francisco Franco, but while the number of abortions has doubled in the past decade, the practice is controversial in the traditionally Catholic country.

Abortion is permitted in certain cases, for example up to 12 weeks for women who have been raped or up to 22 weeks if a fetus is malformed. It is also available if a birth poses a psychological risk to the mother.