21st November, 2013
The Australian Christian Lobby has expressed disappointment at the passing of a bill in Tasmania’s Upper House which they say will make it easier to have an abortion in the state and will provide "less protection" for the rights of children.
The Reproductive Health Bill – removes abortion from the criminal code and brings the state into line with the existing situation in Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory.
Mark Brown, the ACL’s director for Tasmania, says that, as a result, abortion will now simply be seen as a medical procedure.
“The rights of children are less protected under this framework then being in the criminal code which acknowledges this is not just another medical procedure,” he said.
In addition, he said that under the bill women don’t have to get a doctor’s consent to have an abortion for medical or psychological reasons until after 16 weeks – when the consent of two doctors is required – a move which will result in "less likelihood of a woman having informed consent about her decision".
Mr Brown also criticised the new legislation’s requirements that doctors with a conscientious objection to abortion must still pass on a pamphlet outlining it as an option.
“Freedom of speech has also been a casualty in this bill with the introduction of fines and the possibility of 12 month jail term for those who might hold a silent vigil outside an abortion clinic,” he said.
The ACL praised those MPs – including Ivan Dean (Windermere),Rosemary Armitage (Launceston), Adriana Taylor (Elwick), Leonie Hiscutt (Montgomery) and Tony Mulder (Rumney) – who voted against the legislation.
The bill now returns to the Lower House.
– DAVID ADAMS
