Australia – Revived ‘Zoe’s law’ bill a risk to women’s abortion rights, warn pro-choice groups

Revived ‘Zoe’s law’ bill a risk to women’s abortion rights, warn pro-choice groups
New South Wales MP pushing for bill that would make it a crime to cause serious harm or death to a foetus

Michael McGowan
Fri 16 Nov 2018

A bill before the New South Wales parliament, which would make it a crime to cause serious harm or death to a foetus, would set a “dangerous precedent” and present “a real risk to women’s reproductive rights”, women’s and legal groups have argued.

Five years after it was first introduced, the “Zoe’s law” bill has been revived by the conservative NSW Christian Democrat MP Reverend Fred Nile. But even with pro-choice Nationals MP Trevor Khan seeking a compromise deal, opponents say it could still result in restricted access to abortions in the state.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/nov/17/revived-zoes-law-bill-a-risk-to-womens-abortion-rights-warn-pro-choice-groups

Friendly Reminder: It’s 2018 And Abortion Is Still A Crime In NSW

Friendly Reminder: It’s 2018 And Abortion Is Still A Crime In NSW
by Sam Langford
11 September 2018

Well, it turns out that more than three quarters of people in NSW aren’t aware that abortion is still a criminal offence Australia’s biggest state. Here’s your grim reminder that yep, NSW still hasn’t gotten around to legalising abortion. Actually, NSW Parliament voted to keep abortion in the Crimes Act just last year.

A new study by the University of Sydney and James Cook University, published today in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, surveyed NSW residents about their knowledge of abortion law. It turns out that popular understanding is wildly out of step with the actual law — the survey found that 76 percent of respondents had no idea that abortion is a criminal offence in NSW, and that 73 percent thought abortion should be decriminalised and regulated as a healthcare service.

Continued: http://junkee.com/abortion-crimes-act-nsw/174798

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

Abortion clinic ‘safe access zones’ become law in NSW

Abortion clinic 'safe access zones' become law in NSW

By Lisa Visentin
8 June 2018

Protesters will face jail time for harassing people outside abortion facilities after NSW Parliament passed laws to impose 150-metre "safe access zones" around clinics and hospitals that provide terminations.

The laws, which are aimed at ensuring the privacy and safety of women accessing clinics, passed easily and without amendment through the Legislative Assembly, with a final vote of 61 to 18 in favour.

Continued: https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/abortion-clinic-safe-access-zones-become-law-in-nsw-20180607-p4zk18.html

Australia – Abortion advocates urge NSW to ‘take next step’ after new safe access laws

Abortion advocates urge NSW to 'take next step' after new safe access laws
Reproductive rights activists have praised the passing of the new ‘safe access abortion zone’ laws in New South Wales, but say they would like to see abortion completely decriminalised.

June 8, 2018
By Evan Young

After a mammoth sitting which saw testimony from over 40 MPs, the New South Wales parliament passed the controversial amendment of the Public Health Act early Friday morning, 61 votes to 18.

The new law, supported by NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian, makes it illegal to communicate, film or intimidate a woman inside of a 150-metre radius of an abortion clinic.

Continued: https://www.sbs.com.au/news/abortion-advocates-urge-nsw-to-take-next-step-after-new-safe-access-laws

Expert Opinion: NSW Gov is enabling harassment. Abortion clinics need Safe Access Zones now.

Expert Opinion: NSW Gov is enabling harassment. Abortion clinics need Safe Access Zones now.
Tomorrow, the NSW upper house will vote on the introduction to 'Safe Access Zones' to shield women from harassment outside abortion clinics.

May 23, 2018
By Adrianne Walters, Renee Carr

Every week, women in NSW face harassment and intimidation by anti-abortionists outside reproductive healthcare clinics.

Women are told they are murderers, forced to look at graphic images, and made to listen to misleading and medically inaccurate claims about the dire consequences that await them inside the abortion clinic.

Continued: https://www.sbs.com.au/news/the-feed/expert-opinion-nsw-gov-is-enabling-harassment-abortion-clinics-need-safe-access-zones-now

Australia: Abortion laws: bill to establish exclusion zones likely to pass NSW parliament

Abortion laws: bill to establish exclusion zones likely to pass NSW parliament
Laws would establish ‘safe access’ around clinics and proposes potential jail time for harassment within zones

Michael McGowan
Wed 23 May 2018

A bill to establish exclusion zones around abortion clinics in New South Wales is likely to pass the state’s parliament.

The legislation would establish 150m “safe access zones” around abortion clinics and proposes potential jail time for people caught harassing people within the zones.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/may/23/abortion-laws-bill-to-establish-exclusion-zones-likely-to-pass-nsw-parliament

23.05.2018

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Law Seeks to Curb Abortion Protests in Australia

Law Seeks to Curb Abortion Protests in Australia

May 19, 2018
Phil Mercer

SYDNEY — Protests outside abortion clinics are to be outlawed under new laws proposed in Australia's most populous state. The legislation will be debated in the coming days in the New South Wales parliament.

It is estimated that up to 80,000 Australian women terminate a pregnancy each year. While abortion laws vary across the country, in New South Wales the procedure isn't illegal if it safeguards a woman's mental or physical health.

Continued: https://www.voanews.com/a/law-seeks-curb-abortion-protests-australia/4401079.html

19.05.2018

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Australia – The Abortion Issue Dividing The NSW Government

The Abortion Issue Dividing The NSW Government
The "safe access" bill is set to be introduced to parliament this week.

Jessica Rapana
May 15, 2018

A new bill which could give NSW women the right to access abortions free from harassment is causing tensions within the Berejiklian government.

The proposed bill, which could be introduced to the Upper House as soon as Thursday, sets out 150m "safe access zones" around abortion clinics, with penalties including potential jail time for anyone caught harassing women within these parameters. It would also criminalise the recording or distribution of recordings of women inside the zone.

Continued: http://www.whimn.com.au/talk/news/the-abortion-issue-dividing-the-nsw-government/news-story/1826ebbc928d22a3393f69f609cc2aa3

Australia: A Woman’s Abortion Conviction Is An Unexpected Wake-Up Call, Experts Say

A Woman’s Abortion Conviction Is An Unexpected Wake-Up Call, Experts Say

by Sam Langford
16 August 2017

Legal experts say that a Sydney woman’s conviction for taking abortion drugs is almost unheard of in NSW, and that the surprising case highlights the urgent need for abortion law reform.

In a judgment handed down on July 5 in Blacktown Local Court, Magistrate Geoff Hiatt found a woman who self-administered drugs to abort her pregnancy guilty of a criminal offence. The maximum penalty for the offence is 10 years imprisonment but as it was dealt with summarily in a local court the convicted woman faces a maximum two year sentence.

Continued at source: Junkee: http://junkee.com/sydney-abortion-conviction-unexpected/118317