NSW – Anti-abortion groups rally after decriminalisation bill delayed until September

Anti-abortion groups rally after decriminalisation bill delayed until September
A vote on the bill to decriminalise abortion had been expected this week but opponents have campaigned furiously against it

Michael McGowan
Tue 20 Aug 2019

Thousands of anti-abortion protesters have rallied outside the NSW parliament after opponents of a bill to decriminalise abortion in New South Wales successfully delayed a final vote on the legislation until next month.

The parliament’s upper house began debating the reproductive healthcare reform bill on Tuesday, almost two weeks after it passed its first hurdle in the lower chamber.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/aug/20/nsw-abortion-bill-delayed-until-september-amid-liberal-division

NSW abortion law: the decriminalisation reform bill explained

NSW abortion law: the decriminalisation reform bill explained
Opponents claim the new law will allow sex selection and abortion up until birth. But what does the bill actually do?

Michael McGowan
Mon 19 Aug 2019

In the two weeks since an historic bill removing abortion from the New South Wales criminal code passed its first hurdle in the parliament’s lower house, opponents of the legislation have fought hard to stop it becoming law.

Religious leaders, rightwing MPs and conservative media commentators have all mounted a concerted campaign to derail the legislation ahead of the vote. Opponents claim the bill will allow so-called gender or sex selection and abortion “on demand” up until birth.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/aug/19/nsw-abortion-law-the-decriminalisation-reform-bill-explained

Essential poll: majority of NSW voters support removing abortion from criminal code

Essential poll: majority of NSW voters support removing abortion from criminal code
Poll finds 71% of voters support proposal as debate is set to resume in the upper house

By Brinkwire
on August 19, 2019

A majority of voters in New South Wales either strongly support or somewhat support removing abortion from the criminal code, according to the latest Guardian Essential poll.

With debate on the proposal set to resume in the upper house, the latest survey shows 71% of voters in the sample support the change (44% strongly and 27% somewhat) with only 17% against the change (8% somewhat oppose and 9% strongly oppose). A total of 12% of those polled were unsure.

Continued: https://en.brinkwire.com/canada/essential-poll-majority-of-nsw-voters-support-removing-abortion-from-criminal-code/

19.08.2019

public support for abortion

NSW abortion law backers unlikely to support calls for sex selection ban

NSW abortion law backers unlikely to support calls for sex selection ban
Supporters of bill to decriminalise abortion confident it can pass despite opponents’ campaign

By Brinkwire
on August 16, 2019

Supporters of a historic bill to decriminalise abortion in New South Wales remain confident it will make it through parliament unscathed despite the premier, Gladys Berejiklian, caving in to calls for bans on so-called “sex selection” terminations.

The bill’s passage through the lower house last week prompted a backlash from rightwing MPs, religious leaders and conservative figures in the media who have mounted a concerted campaign to derail the legislation ahead of the upper house vote.

Continued: https://en.brinkwire.com/canada/nsw-abortion-law-backers-unlikely-to-support-calls-for-sex-selection-ban/

Is the ‘revolt’ against Gladys Berejiklian over the abortion bill real?

Is the ‘revolt’ against Gladys Berejiklian over the abortion bill real?
The rancour within the NSW Liberal party is being stirred by commentators looking for a new culture war

By Brinkwire
on August 13, 2019

The New South Wales premier, Gladys Berejiklian flew out of Sydney on a trade mission on Monday morning, leaving seething unhappiness in some parts of her Liberal party over the the bill to decriminalise abortion, which passed the lower house last week.

But is it actually a revolt, as some media report, or a naked attempt to forge a new front in the culture wars led by the Daily Telegraph and Sky News?

Continued: https://en.brinkwire.com/canada/is-the-revolt-against-gladys-berejiklian-over-the-abortion-bill-real/

Australia – As a Uniting church minister I think abortion can be a morally good choice

As a Uniting church minister I think abortion can be a morally good choice
In the debate about the NSW abortion law reform we should trust women to make good decisions about whether or not to continue a pregnancy

Margaret Mayman
Mon 12 Aug 2019

The New South Wales parliament is considering whether a 1900 law that criminalised abortion is appropriate for its regulation in 2019.

In 1900 it was widely accepted that women’s bodies and women’s sexuality were appropriately controlled by patriarchal power inherent in government, medicine, religion, and family life. The 1900 legislation was influenced by the racist ideology of eugenics in response to declining birthrates and claims that “selfish” white women were using abortion to control fertility.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/aug/12/as-a-uniting-church-minister-i-think-abortion-can-be-a-morally-good-choice

12.08.2019

Reproductive Health Care Reform Bill 2019

NSW abortion law: Shooters party signals it will oppose bill due to fears of ‘sex selection’

NSW abortion law: Shooters party signals it will oppose bill due to fears of 'sex selection'
Robert Borsak says lack of provisions to stop ‘gender selection’ means party will inevitably vote against it

Michael McGowan
Sat 10 Aug 2019

The powerful New South Wales upper house Shooters, Fishers and Farmers party won’t support a historic bill to decriminalise abortion in the state because of concern about a lack of provisions around so-called “sex selection” in the legislation.

Robert Borsak, one of two SFFP upper house MPs, told Guardian Australia on Saturday that the party would not support the bill without amendments aimed at preventing what he called “sex selection”, despite all three of its lower house MPs voting in favour of the bill when it passed on Thursday.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/10/nsw-abortion-law-shooters-party-signals-it-will-oppose-bill-due-to-fears-of-sex-selection

Abortion advocates hopeful bill will pass

Abortion advocates hopeful bill will pass

Jodie Stephens and Dominica Sanda
9 Aug 2019

Pro-choice advocates are optimistic a bill to decriminalise abortion in NSW will soon become law after it cleared a significant hurdle by passing through the state's lower house.

Members of the Legislative Assembly erupted into cheers on Thursday night when they voted in favour of the amended bill to take abortion out of the criminal code following three days of passionate debate.

Continued: https://www.thesenior.com.au/story/6319062/abortion-advocates-hopeful-bill-will-pass/

NSW abortion bill passes first hurdle in late-night sitting

NSW abortion bill passes first hurdle in late-night sitting
Bill to decriminalise abortion passes lower house of parliament by 59 votes to 31 after lengthy debate

Michael McGowan
Thu 8 Aug 2019

After three days of wrangling, a historic bill to decriminalise abortions in New South Wales has cleared its first hurdle after passing through the state’s lower house.

The Reproductive Healthcare Reform bill passed 59 votes to 31 just before 11pm on Thursday night, though not without amendments that altered the bill from its original form.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/aug/08/nsw-abortion-bill-passes-first-hurdle

NSW abortion law: informed consent requirement confusing, says AMA

NSW abortion law: informed consent requirement confusing, says AMA
Bill made it through the first vote 56 to 33, but MPs are still debating more than a dozen amendments to legislation

Michael McGowan
Thu 8 Aug 2019

The introduction of a statutory requirement for doctors to gain “informed consent” before performing abortions in New South Wales will cause confusion and create an unnecessary “extra hurdle” to accessing a termination, the Australian Medical Association has warned.

The historic, cross-party bill to decriminalise abortion in NSW is being debated on the floor of the state’s parliament on Thursday, with wrangling over proposed amendments expected to go late into the night or even early Friday morning.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/aug/08/nsw-abortion-law-plan-to-increase-restrictions-on-terminations-after-22-weeks-scrapped