Churches and anti-abortion groups have swung into action before legislation that would remove abortion from New South Wales’ Crimes Act is debated in the state’s parliament.
One of the bills, which could be debated as early as next week, was introduced by NSW Greens MP Mehreen Faruqi. It removes the procedure from the state’s Crimes Act and establishes safe access zones around hospitals and clinics where abortion is provided. It also requires doctors who conscientiously object to abortion to refer a patient to another doctor who doesn’t.
Legislation to decriminalise abortion was withdrawn from Queensland’s parliament in February after every single member of that state’s Liberal National opposition vowed to vote against it. Farqui said it was “disappointing but not entirely surprising” that the lobby was running a “scare campaign on abortion law reform based on inaccurate information”.
https://www.buzzfeed.com/ginarushton/were-about-to-have-the-same-debate-about-whether-abortion?utm_term=.gcWP1RgER#.yqzxv4754
[category: Aust, reproductive rights]
