Abortion decriminalised in NSW after mammoth debate

Abortion decriminalised in NSW after mammoth debate
There were emotional scenes in parliament as abortion was decriminalised in NSW. But the state’s Premier was nowhere to be seen.

Jodie Stephens and Dominica Sanda, AAP
September 26, 2019

NSW parliament has passed laws decriminalising abortion, more than a century after it was included in the state’s criminal code — but the state’s premier was nowhere to be seen in the chamber this morning.

Overnight, the NSW Upper House finally passed the bill and this morning the Lower House approved its amendments.

Continued: https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/parenting/pregnancy/nsw-abortion-bill-passes-upper-house/news-story/ccbeffca6eb14a027c5ed2321e6a9820

Abortion decriminalised in NSW after bill passes last hurdle

Abortion decriminalised in NSW after bill passes last hurdle

By Alexandra Smith
Updated September 26, 2019

NSW will become the final state in the country to remove abortion from the Crimes Act after the contentious bill passed its last hurdle on Thursday morning.

The amended bill appeased conservative MPs, securing Premier Gladys Berejiklian's majority which was under threat after rebel MPs warned they could defect.

Continued: https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/abortion-decriminalised-in-nsw-after-bill-passes-last-hurdle-20190926-p52v2q.html

Australia – Young Liberals back Berejiklian’s handling of abortion bill

Young Liberals back Berejiklian's handling of abortion bill

By Alexandra Smith
September 23, 2019

The Young Liberals' have overwhelming backed Gladys Berejiklian's handling of the abortion bill, moving a motion in support of the Premier at their annual convention on the weekend.

After the Premier stared down a spill threat from three disgruntled conservative MPs last week, the youth wing moved a motion supporting her decision to allow a conscience vote on abortion.

Continued: https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/young-liberals-back-berejiklian-s-handling-of-abortion-bill-20190922-p52tpf.html

23.09.2019

Premier Gladys Berejikilian

Abortion bill in NSW used to push Australian politics further to the right

Abortion bill in NSW used to push Australian politics further to the right

By Cheryl Crisp
16 September 2019

Legislation to decriminalise abortion in Australia’s most populous state, New South Wales (NSW), is being used by forces within the state’s ruling Liberal Party to push politics even further in the direction of extreme right-wing populism.

The Reproductive Health Care Reform Bill 2019, which passed in the state’s Legislative Assembly (lower house) on August 8, is scheduled to be voted on in the upper house (Legislative Council) tomorrow, September 17. A delay was demanded by its right-wing opponents in order to gain time to block the bill’s passage in its present form.

Continued: https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2019/09/16/abor-s16.html

Australia – Liberal MPs tell Premier they will defect to crossbench over abortion bill

Liberal MPs tell Premier they will defect to crossbench over abortion bill

By Alexandra Smith
September 3, 2019

Two Liberal MPs have told Premier Gladys Berejiklian that they are prepared to plunge the Coalition into minority government if "essential amendments" are not made to the abortion bill.

Mulgoa MP Tanya Davies confirmed to a public meeting on Monday night that she has told Ms Berejiklian that she will "separate herself from the government" if amendments are not passed.

Continued: https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/liberal-mps-tell-premier-they-will-defect-to-crossbench-over-abortion-bill-20190903-p52njk.html

Gladys Berejiklian Facing Internal Revolt Over Abortion Bill

Gladys Berejiklian Facing Internal Revolt Over Abortion Bill

Lachlan Kennedy
Tue 03 Sep 2019

NSW Liberal MPs angry over the current push to decriminalise abortion are working the phones about launching a potentially embarrassing censure of Premier Gladys Berejiklian.

Liberal sources have confirmed members from the party’s hard right faction are drafting an ‘urgency motion’ to present to the state council meeting on Saturday.

Continued: https://10daily.com.au/news/politics/a190904cnqml/gladys-berejiklian-is-facing-an-internal-revolt-over-the-abortion-bill-20190904

Key La Trobe study ‘misrepresented’ in NSW abortion debate ‘gendercide’ claim: Authors

Key La Trobe study ‘misrepresented’ in NSW abortion debate ‘gendercide’ claim: Authors

Aug 22, 2019
Samantha Maiden

The authors of a La Trobe University study being used to bolster the case for a ban on gender-selection abortions in Australia say the research has been “misrepresented” by the media and conservative politicians.

Ugly claims that the decriminalisation of abortion in New South Wales will lead to “gendercide” and a generation of missing girls have raged for weeks, with the La Trobe study often cited as the sole research evidence.

Continued: https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/national/2019/08/22/abortion-debate-nsw-study/

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

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