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

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

Brisbane mother slams Catholic Church for ‘linking abortion with child abuse’

Brisbane mother slams Catholic Church for 'linking abortion with child abuse'

By Alison Brown
1 September 2018

A woman from a north Brisbane Catholic school, who recently underwent an abortion, says the Church "overstepped its bounds" with a “highly misleading” newsletter about the state’s new abortion laws.

She claimed the letter from the Brisbane Archdiocese contained information and content that could “push vulnerable women to end their life”.

Continued: https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/brisbane-mother-slams-catholic-church-for-linking-abortion-with-child-abuse-20180831-p5012s.html

Proposed Queensland abortion laws will improve access for regional and remote women, pro-choice advocates say

Proposed Queensland abortion laws will improve access for regional and remote women, pro-choice advocates say

ABC Capricornia
By Megan Hendry and Amy McCosker
July 25, 2018

Pro-choice advocates have thrown their support behind proposed changes to Queensland's abortion laws, saying it will give women in regional and remote areas better access to services.

Women in a large parts of north and west Queensland have limited access to abortion services and have been forced to travel vast distances to Rockhampton, Townsville or even interstate, according to not-for-profit abortion service provider, Marie Stopes Australia.

Continued: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-07-26/abortion-laws-will-improve-access-for-regional-and-remote-women/10004142

‘Young and terrified’: the Queensland women forced to go interstate for abortions

'Young and terrified': the Queensland women forced to go interstate for abortions
Exclusive: An 1899 criminal code has required many women who need the procedure to travel interstate

Ben Smee
Sat 14 Jul 2018

More than 60 women from far north Queensland have been forced to go interstate to have abortions, often to Sydney, in the first six months of 2018.

Other women from regional parts of Queensland, where abortion remains a criminal offence under the 1899 criminal code, have taken round trips of up to 2,600km to undergo procedures, health professionals and support workers have told Guardian Australia.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/14/young-and-terrified-the-queensland-women-forced-to-go-interstate-for-abortions

Abortion law change expected from Queensland Law Reform Commission review

Abortion law change expected from Queensland Law Reform Commission review

By Kirrin McKechnie
Thu Jun 28, 2018

A highly anticipated Queensland Law Reform Commission (LRC) report examining whether abortion should be decriminalised will be handed to the State Government by tomorrow, amid strong expectations within the ALP that change will come.

Under laws written in 1899, abortion is still a criminal offence in Queensland.

The State Government charged the LRC with investigating ways to modernise abortion laws and requested it include draft legislation based on its recommendations.

Continued: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-29/abortion-queensland-change-law-reform-commission-report/9859910

Evangelical Christians step up abortion clinic protests in Queenslan

Evangelical Christians step up abortion clinic protests in Queensland
Pro-choice groups send volunteers to escort women as state prepares to decriminalise

Ben Smee
Mon 18 Jun 2018

An evangelical group has ramped up demonstrations outside several Brisbane abortion clinics as Queensland prepares to reform its 1899 laws that make abortion a criminal offence.

Guardian Australia is aware of several recent verbal clashes between members of the anti-abortion group “Project 139” and clinic patients. The group has sought and received permits to conduct protests at four Brisbane clinics until at least August.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jun/19/evangelical-christians-step-up-abortion-clinic-protests-in-queensland

Queensland Wants To Hear Your Thoughts On Whether Abortion Should Remain A Crime There

Queensland Wants To Hear Your Thoughts On Whether Abortion Should Remain A Crime There

Submissions close on 13 February.
Posted on December 28, 2017
Gina Rushton
BuzzFeed News Reporter, Australia

The Queensland Law Reform Commission has called for the public to make submissions to its review into modernising the state's laws relating to abortion.

The terms of reference specifically require the commission to recommend how Queensland should amend its laws relating to the termination of pregnancy to:

Continued at source: https://www.buzzfeed.com/ginarushton/queensland-wants-to-hear-your-thoughts-on-whether-abortion

Queensland orders review of abortion laws

Queensland orders review of abortion laws
The Australian
December 26, 2017

MICHAEL MCKENNA

Decriminalising abortion in Queensland is a step closer with the launch of a Palaszczuk government-ordered review that will draft “modernising’’ legislation to go before parliament next year.

Queensland’s Law Reform Commission began advertising at the weekend for public submissions into the overhaul of anti-abortion laws that have ¬remained largely unchanged in the state’s criminal code since 1899.

Continued at source: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/queensland-orders-review-of-abortion-laws/news-story/49d97f14ca5f73cb9de45f8165e55113

26.12.2017

decriminalisation of abortion

Queensland abortion law

Queensland Law Reform Commission

Queenslanders split on backing anti-abortion

Queenslanders split on backing anti-abortion

By Felicity Caldwell & Ruth McCosker
20 November 2017

Almost half of Queensland voters would be unwilling to support their preferred candidate in the upcoming election if they wanted accessing an abortion to remain a criminal offence.

A ReachTEL poll revealed LNP voters were the most likely to support their preferred candidate if the candidate wanted abortion to remain a crime, with 62.1 per cent agreeing, compared with 42.5 per cent of Labor voters, 20.9 per cent Greens and 59.7 per cent One Nation.

Overall, 50.1 per cent of respondents said they would not vote for their preferred candidate if that candidate wanted access to abortion to remain a criminal offence.

Continued at source: https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland-election-2017/queenslanders-split-on-voting-decriminalising-abortion-20171120-p4yx3q.html