In what is believed to be the first state-specific survey of its kind, the poll revealed that most people were unaware that abortion is still a crime in NSW, and the vast majority supported decriminalisation.

The results of the survey, which sought the views of more than 1000 people, cut across political, gender and geographical lines, according to Greens MP and spokeswoman for the Status of Women Dr Mehreen Faruqi, who will on Monday launch a campaign for abortion law reform.

"The polling sends a very clear message to all politicians, Liberal, National and Labor, that a vast majority of their constituents believe abortion should not be a criminal offence and women should be able to access clinics in safety and privacy without harassment and intimidation. They want abortion law reform in NSW," Dr Faruqi said.

Women in NSW can access abortion under the 1971 Levine District Court ruling only if there are economic, social or medical grounds to avoid a serious threat to the woman's physical or mental health. Victoria, the ACT and Tasmania have already legalised abortion, and Tasmania has also introduced protest-free zones around abortion clinics to stop the harassment of women. In NSW the Baird government relies on the Christian Democrat vote in the upper house and its leader Reverend Fred Nile who holds the balance of power is an avowed anti-abortion stance.

The Greens commissioned Lonergan Research to poll 1015 people in NSW about their views on abortion, exclusion zones around abortion clinics and decriminalisation.

The poll found that 87 per cent believe women should be able to have an abortion, with more than half indicating that women should be able to obtain one at any time. Only 6 per cent believed abortion should not be allowed under any circumstances.

It also found that 76 per cent of people were unaware that abortion was still a crime in NSW.

The polling looked at the political affiliations of those surveyed, and the majority of Liberal and National party voters showed support for decriminalising abortion (75 per cent) and creating exclusion zones (83 per cent).

"Women living in regional areas bear the brunt of limited access to reproductive health services. So it's not surprising that the support for abortion law reform is even higher in regional and rural areas," Dr Faruqi said.

"In Albury, it's not surprising that community support for exclusion zones is gaining huge momentum. Having visited the only fertility control clinic in Albury I can definitely understand how the intimidatory tactics used by anti-abortion groups and individuals affect the privacy and safety of women and their doctors. No wonder many of them are forced to go to Victoria where abortion has been decriminalised."

More than three-quarters (78 per cent) of people polled believe medical practitioners should be required to provide unbiased and independent information on options for unplanned pregnancies, despite their personal views on abortion.  But 51 per cent believe doctors are entitled to refuse to conduct an abortion procedure. Those with religious beliefs are most likely to support this right of refusal.