Palaszczuk Government delivers historic abortion laws

Palaszczuk Government delivers historic abortion laws

Wednesday, October 17, 2018

Abortion will be legal in Queensland for the first time in 119 years after the Parliament passed the Palaszczuk Government’s historic laws tonight.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the Termination of Pregnancy Act 2018 will ensure women can access services and health professionals can provide these services without fear or stigma.

Continued: http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2018/10/17/palaszczuk-government-delivers-historic-abortion-laws


Threats of reprisals against Queensland MPs who voted to legalise abortio

Threats of reprisals against Queensland MPs who voted to legalise abortion

By Allyson Horn
Oct 17, 2018

Pro-life groups have threatened MPs who voted to remove abortion from Queensland's criminal code, vowing to remove them from office.

MPs were given a conscience vote in Parliament and voted 50 to 41 to reform the 19th century laws.

Continued: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-18/threats-of-reprisals-against-mps-who-voted-to-legalise-abortion/10390220


Queensland abortion bill debate brings politicians to tears

Queensland abortion bill debate brings politicians to tears
by Allyson Horn

Oct 16, 2018

Politicians have broken down in tears and recounted their personal experiences with pregnancy and termination while debating laws to decriminalise abortion in Queensland.

A vote on the proposal is expected late today.

If the bill passes, it will allow abortions up until 22 weeks' gestation, and post 22 weeks with the approval of two medical practitioners.

Continued: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-17/queensland-abortion-debate-politicians-in-tears/10386110


Abortion Debate in Australia Has a New Element: Women in Power

Abortion Debate in Australia Has a New Element: Women in Power

By Rick Rojas
Oct. 15, 2018

BRISBANE, Australia — Activists in the Australian state of Queensland have tried for decades to scrap a criminal code from 1899 that makes having an abortion an offense punishable with prison time, and for decades their efforts have failed.

But as the state Parliament again considers whether to decriminalize abortion, advocates say this time may be different: Women will be leading the debate.

Continued: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/15/world/australia/australia-abortion-vote-women.html


Australia – Abortion laws that once led to police raids and arrests may be scrapped

Abortion laws that once led to police raids and arrests may be scrapped

By Allyson Horn
Oct 15, 2018

Thirty-three years ago Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen ordered police raids on Queensland's abortion clinics because terminating a pregnancy was illegal.

Those laws have not changed for more than 100 years, but this week MPs will be asked to make abortion legal.

In 1985 police burst through the doors of the Greenslopes Fertility Control Clinic — one of Queensland's only abortion facilities.

Continued: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-16/abortion-laws-may-be-scrapped-in-queensland/10373646


Australia – Doctors, nurses and pollies march in support of abortion reform

Doctors, nurses and pollies march in support of abortion reform

By Alison Brown
14 October 2018

Doctors, nurses and politicians from all sides of politics were among the 1000-strong crowd who braved Sunday showers to march through Brisbane in support of proposed changes to Queensland’s abortion laws.

The laws, which will be put to the Queensland Parliament next week, allow for abortion up to 22 weeks gestation, provide safe access zones around clinics, and require doctors who conscientiously object to refer patients to another medical professional.

Continued: https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/doctors-nurses-and-pollies-march-in-support-of-abortion-reform-20181014-p509lu.html


‘You were shamed, punished’: Queensland changes its mind on abortion

'You were shamed, punished': Queensland changes its mind on abortion
Next week the state will likely decriminalise pregnancy termination. It’s been a long time coming

by Ben Smee
Sat 13 Oct 2018

“They make me feel like a criminal,” says Brisbane woman Zena Mason. “I’ve been called a murderer for what I did. I have had the most vulgar comments. People seem to think I woke up one day and decided to have an abortion at 20 weeks.”

Next week, Queensland is expected to repeal the 119-year-old section of the state’s criminal code that makes abortion illegal. For more than 40 years, debate about termination of pregnancy in the state has been often emotional and vicious. Women like Mason wrestle with a grim choice, then find out they’re breaking the law.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/oct/14/you-were-shamed-punished-queensland-changes-its-mind-on-abortion


Victoria legalised abortion 10 years ago – what will it take in NSW and Queensland?

Victoria legalised abortion 10 years ago – what will it take in NSW and Queensland?
A decade on, Victoria still doesn’t have enough publicly provided, accessible abortion services

Kathleen Maltzahn
Tue 9 Oct 2018

It took more than 40 years of feminist activism, three days and nights of parliamentary debate and hours-long speeches by religious right MPs railing against decriminalisation for abortion in Victoria to be taken out of the crimes act. Ten years on, this is still a powerful victory. Victoria is one of only three Australian jurisdictions where abortion is legal, despite strong community support. Given recent failures to decriminalise in Queensland and New South Wales, Victoria’s success is a reminder that change is possible.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/commentisfree/2018/oct/09/victoria-legalised-abortion-10-years-ago-what-will-it-take-in-nsw-and-queensland


Queensland abortion legalisation to be put to conscience vote

Queensland abortion legalisation to be put to conscience vote
Legislation decriminalising abortion expected to pass parliament after Liberal National party lets MPs choose

Ben Smee
Tue 9 Oct 2018

Queensland is expected to pass legislation to decriminalise abortion next week, after the opposition Liberal National party decided to allow its MPs a conscience vote.

The decision, announced after a lengthy party room meeting on Tuesday afternoon, will pave the way for the removal of abortion from the 1899 criminal code.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/oct/09/queensland-abortion-legalisation-to-be-put-to-conscience-vote


Australia – Tough passage for abortion bill

Tough passage for abortion bill

Jared Owens
October 8, 2018

Queensland Labor’s ambitious bid to decriminalise abortion and ban protesters targeting pregnant women outside clinics could be thwarted at a meeting of Liberal National MPs today.

Although the government commands 48 of parliament’s 93 seats, some Labor MPs are ­expected to abstain or vote against the bill, which would allow terminations on request up to 22 weeks’ gestation.

Continued: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/state-politics/tough-passage-for-abortion-bill/news-story/fd22397b0eb7aae4601a4ca9bf7fc79d?nk=d2feef8765d9eded8a6860bac74e0889-1539123256