Fact check: Will Queensland’s proposed abortion laws allow unrestricted access after 22 weeks?

Fact check: Will Queensland's proposed abortion laws allow unrestricted access after 22 weeks?
Oct 3, 2018

The claim

Protestors have marched through the streets of Brisbane voicing their opposition to proposed changes to abortion laws in Queensland. Among them was Nationals senator for Queensland Matt Canavan, a cabinet minister, who addressed the crowd and spoke to reporters at the march.

"[The proposed changes] would be some of the most radical and extreme legislation of abortions in the world, and it would allow, effectively … unrestricted abortions beyond 22 weeks," Senator Canavan said.

Will the new laws, if passed, allow unrestricted access to abortion after 22 weeks? RMIT ABC Fact Check takes a look.

Continued: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-04/fact-check-queensland-abortion-laws-unrestricted-access/10264402

Experts and community groups urge Queensland Attorney General to act on abortion law reform

Experts and community groups urge Queensland Attorney General to act on abortion law reform
May 26, 2017

The Queensland Government should demonstrate a commitment to women’s health and refer abortion to the state’s Law Reform Commission a coalition of legal, medical and community groups said today.

Sunday 28 May marks the International Day of Action on Women’s Health. The day also signals three months since the government committed to this referral which would be a step towards fully decriminalising abortion in Queensland.

Kate Marsh from Children by Choice said, “On this International Day of Action, we’re calling on the Attorney General Yvette D’Arth to act on abortion law reform and make this referral a priority.”

Continued at source: Human Rights Law Center: https://www.hrlc.org.au/news/2017/5/25/groups-urge-queensland-attorneygeneral-to-act-on-abortion-law-reform

Australia: Heartbreaking 12-year-old’s abortion case at centre of decriminalisation push

OCTOBER 10, 20166:14PM

Underage girls are seeking help with unwanted pregnancies, and the law isn’t always on their side.

Liz Burke
news.com.au

A 12-YEAR-OLD Queensland girl’s heartbreaking abortion case is at the centre of a renewed push to decriminalise abortion across Australia.
The Rockhampton schoolgirl, identified by the courts only as “Q”, sought an abortion in April this year after becoming pregnant.

After asking for an abortion from her local general practitioner, the girl was referred to a public hospital. There, although a specialist obstetrician deemed it appropriate for her to have a termination, the health service administration applied to the Queensland Supreme Court to authorise the abortion.

That meant a lengthy litigation process that delayed the termination the girl was later found by the court to be entitled to by a month, and a whole lot of distress.

The case of Q is the focus of an article published in the Medical Journal of Australia advocating for the criminal laws in place in Queensland and New South Wales — which saw the legal system interrupt Q’s abortion — to be repealed.

[continued at link]
Source: News.com.au

Australia: Case closed: experts loudly back decriminalisation of abortion in Qld

Doctors’ professional bodies have spoken out loud and clear in favour of the decriminalisation of abortion in Queensland, write Caroline de Costa, professor of gynaecology, and Heather Douglas, professor of criminal law.

The report of the bipartisan committee of Queensland Parliament inquiring into abortion law reform in the statewas released at 5.17pm last Friday. The Health, Communities, Disability Services and Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Committee was instructed to conduct an inquiry following the tabling of the Abortion Law Reform (Woman’s Right to Choose) Amendment Bill on May 9 by independent MP for Cairns Rob Pyne.

Pyne’s bill is the first attempt in history to remove the abortion offences from the Queensland Criminal Code (QCC) of 1899. These offences makes abortion a crime for doctors, women and any person assisting with an abortion procedure.

[continued at link]
Source: Crikey

Australia: Queensland rejects bill to decriminalise abortion

Independent MP for Cairns Rob Pyne introduced the Women's Right to Choose bill in May.

After 1400 submission, scores of expert appearances and public hearings, Queensland's Parliamentary inquiry into abortion law reform has rejected a bill to decriminalise abortion across the state.

Cairns Independent MP Rob Pyne, who introduced the Women's Right to Choose bill in May, said the decision was politically motivated and that it was "disappointing that some of the politicians can't be a little more courageous in their approach to some reform".

However, chairwoman and Labor MP Leanne Linard said careful consideration was given to the complex issues in regulating termination of pregnancy.

[continued at link]
Source: Stuff.co

30.08.2016