Liberal amendments revive anti-abortion bill
Liberal amendments revive anti-abortion bill
By Amanda Lawrence
CANBERRA — Just as the campaign to defeat ACT independent MLA Paul Osborne's anti-abortion bill looked to be gaining ground, proposed amendments from a local Liberal MP could result in the bill being passed "in principle" as early as November 25.
On November 17, Liberal member of the ACT Legislative Assembly Gary Humphries proposed a range of amendments to Osborne's bill, and retitled the proposed legislation the "maternal health information" bill.
Under Humphries' amendments, abortion remains a criminal offence. The amendments include a 72-hour "cooling off" period between a woman's initial consultation with her doctor and the termination procedure, and the requirement that women under 18 years of age have parental consent before being able to access abortion services.
Lara Pullin, from the ACT Pro-choice campaign collective, told Green Left Weekly, "Humphries said quite clearly in his press release that his amendments are about stopping abortion and getting the Osborne bill through the assembly. The amendments fly in the face of community sentiment, which is overwhelmingly pro-choice."
Pullin said ACT Pro-choice was seriously concerned at Liberal ACT Chief Minister Kate Carnell's backtracking on the issue. She has stated she is happy with most of Humphries' amendments.
"We can only interpret this to mean that she will not vote to get rid of the Osborne bill at the crucial 'in principle' stage", said Pullin.
ACT Pro-choice organised an emergency rally outside the Legislative Assembly on November 18, as MLAs were debating the bill. More than 250 people attended, chanting loudly: "No Osborne bill, no Humphries amendments!".
MLAs Wayne Berry and Kerry Tucker, who are pro-choice, attended the rally and explained that Osborne had withdrawn his bill so it could incorporate Humphries' amendments and be debated as one piece of legislation.
The Humphries-Osborne anti-abortion bill will be debated at the next sitting of the assembly, beginning on November 25.
ACT Pro-choice campaigners have vowed to protest against the bill until it has been defeated and a woman's right to choose abortion services in the ACT is guaranteed.