Australia – Anti-abortion activists lose bid to overturn clinic safe access zones in two states

Anti-abortion activists lose bid to overturn clinic safe access zones in two states
High court throws out cases from anti-abortion campaigners in Victoria and Tasmania

Melissa Davey
Wed 10 Apr 2019

Safe access zone laws in Victoria and Tasmania preventing anti-abortion protesters from harassing women seeking medical treatment will stay, following a judgment delivered by the high court on Wednesday.

The court threw out the cases brought by anti-abortion campaigners Kathleen Clubb and Graham Preston in a comprehensive, 200-page decision.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/apr/10/anti-abortion-activists-lose-bid-to-overturn-clinic-safe-access-zones-in-two-states

Australia – Abortion clinic protests should be allowed even if women’s dignity hurt: lawyer

Abortion clinic protests should be allowed even if women's dignity hurt: lawyer
Anti-abortion campaigners tell the high court that safe zones breach their political freedom

Paul Karp
Tue 9 Oct 2018

Anti-abortion campaigners should be allowed to protest outside clinics, even if it harms the dignity of women entering the clinics or hurts their feelings, lawyers for anti-abortion protesters argued today.

On Tuesday the high court held a hearing into anti-abortion campaigners’ constitutional challenge against Tasmanian and Victorian laws prohibiting protests in “safe zones” outside abortion clinics.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/oct/09/abortion-clinic-protests-should-be-allowed-even-if-womens-dignity-hurt-lawyer

Abortion clinic safe-access zones face challenge in Australia’s high court

Abortion clinic safe-access zones face challenge in Australia's high court
Campaigners challenging Victorian and Tasmanian laws argue they stifle free speech

Melissa Davey
Mon 8 Oct 2018

The validity of the safe-access-zone laws in Victoria and Tasmania that prevent anti-abortion protesters from harassing women seeking medical treatment will be challenged before the high court on Tuesday.

The Victorian case has been brought by anti-abortion campaigner Kathleen Clubb, who was the first person to be convicted of breaking Victoria’s safe-access-zone laws in 2016. The laws mean anti-abortion protesters cannot protest within 150m of health and fertility clinics. Clubb was fined $5,000 for communicating about abortion to a woman attending an East Melbourne medical clinic. Clubb’s conduct was found to be “reasonably likely to cause distress or anxiety”.

continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/oct/09/abortion-clinic-safe-access-zones-face-challenge-in-australias-high-court

Explainer: what are abortion clinic safe-access zones and where do they exist in Australia?

Explainer: what are abortion clinic safe-access zones and where do they exist in Australia?

June 14, 2018
Tania Penovic

New South Wales recently became the fifth Australian jurisdiction to enact legislation that establishes safe-access zones around abortion clinics.

The legislation is a response to picketing of clinics by anti-abortion protesters for more than two decades. These protesters characterise themselves as “sidewalk counsellors” but their conduct has included verbal abuse, threats, impeding entry to clinics, displaying violent imagery and acts of “disturbing theatre” such as pushing a blood-splattered doll in a pram.

Safe-access zones are sometimes called bubble zones because they create a bubble around an abortion clinic in which certain conduct is prohibited. NSW will now impose safe-access zones of 150 metres around clinics that provide abortions.

Continued: https://theconversation.com/explainer-what-are-abortion-clinic-safe-access-zones-and-where-do-they-exist-in-australia-98175

Australia: Anti-abortion protester Graham Preston to be first to appeal conviction under Tasmanian law

ABC News, Sept 19, 2016

Graham Preston argues the Tasmanian laws are unconstitutional. © ABC Graham Preston argues the Tasmanian laws are unconstitutional. The first person prosecuted under Tasmania's laws banning pro-life protests outside abortion clinics is appealing against his conviction.

Graham Preston is arguing Tasmania's Reproductive Health laws are unconstitutional and impinge both his right to freedom of religion and political speech.

It is a battle that may well end up in the High Court, with constitutional law experts saying Preston may have a point.

Tasmanian laws introduced in 2013 banned protests within 150 metres of a termination clinic.

Women seeking terminations argue the law is needed to protect their right not be harassed and vilified.

[continued at link]
Source: MSN.com

19.09.2016