New South Wales decriminalizes abortion
September 27, 2019, 22:40:02 CEST | Wikinews
September 27, 2019, 22:40:02 CEST | Wikinews
Friday, September 27, 2019 
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Yesterday, the Parliament of New South Wales (NSW), Australia voted to pass the "Reproductive Health Care Reform Bill 2019" which decriminalized abortion. Until the new legislation, NSW had the most restrictive anti-abortion law in Australia. The NSW legislature in Sydney abolished any existing common law rules about abortion and legalized terminations up to week 22 of a pregnancy.
Greenwich celebrating marriage equality in 2017 Image: EqualityCWiki.
Since 1900, under the state's criminal code, abortions were only allowed if a doctor determined the mother was in danger, either mentally or physically. The bill was drafted by Alex Greenwich who said on the parliament floor, "It follows decades of work from women's rights campaigners, activists and people in the Parliament". The upper house debate involved 102 amendments, and was amongst the longest they have ever debated a bill.
Member of parliament (MP) Kevin Conolly said a law allowing the termination of a life marked a "sad day for NSW". Former prime minister Tony Abbott said, "It is a license for sex-selection abortions. It is a license for late-term abortion [...] It is effectively infanticide on demand."
MP Penny Sharpe, who co-sponsored the bill, said, "The current law has meant women and doctors have a threat of 10 years in jail for making this decision and that's not okay". Early opponent MP Tanya Davies said, "We have moved the bill to a better place".
Premier Gladys Berejiklian was not present at the bill's final vote.
New South Wales is the most populated Australian state. The state of South Australia still limits abortions to cases with two doctors' approval.
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Sister links[edit]
Abortion in Australia
Sources[edit]
"Australia abortion laws: Terminations now legal in New South Wales" — BBC News Online, September 26, 2019
Paolo Zialcita. "Australia's Largest State Lifts Abortion Restrictions" — NPR, September 26, 2019
Alexandra Smith. "Abortion decriminalised in NSW after bill passes last hurdle" — The Sydney Morning Herald, September 26, 2019
Alex Greenwich. "Reproductive Health Care Reform Bill 2019" — Parliament of New South Wales, September 26, 2019 (date of access) (PDF)
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Source: Wikinews
Australia
Related articles
27 September 2019: New South Wales decriminalizes abortion
18 December 2018: Australia now recognises West Jerusalem as Israeli capital, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announces
30 August 2018: Brisbane, Australia Magistrates Court charges two cotton farmers with $20m fraud
10 August 2018: New South Wales, Australia government says entire state in winter 2018 drought
1 July 2018: FIFA World Cup 2018 day 12, 13, 14, 15: Iran, Nigeria, Germany, Senegal out of the tournament
Location of Australia
Collaborate!
Pillars of Wikinews writing
Writing an article
Yesterday, the Parliament of New South Wales (NSW), Australia voted to pass the "Reproductive Health Care Reform Bill 2019" which decriminalized abortion. Until the new legislation, NSW had the most restrictive anti-abortion law in Australia. The NSW legislature in Sydney abolished any existing common law rules about abortion and legalized terminations up to week 22 of a pregnancy.
Greenwich celebrating marriage equality in 2017 Image: EqualityCWiki.
Since 1900, under the state's criminal code, abortions were only allowed if a doctor determined the mother was in danger, either mentally or physically. The bill was drafted by Alex Greenwich who said on the parliament floor, "It follows decades of work from women's rights campaigners, activists and people in the Parliament". The upper house debate involved 102 amendments, and was amongst the longest they have ever debated a bill.
Member of parliament (MP) Kevin Conolly said a law allowing the termination of a life marked a "sad day for NSW". Former prime minister Tony Abbott said, "It is a license for sex-selection abortions. It is a license for late-term abortion [...] It is effectively infanticide on demand."
MP Penny Sharpe, who co-sponsored the bill, said, "The current law has meant women and doctors have a threat of 10 years in jail for making this decision and that's not okay". Early opponent MP Tanya Davies said, "We have moved the bill to a better place".
Premier Gladys Berejiklian was not present at the bill's final vote.
New South Wales is the most populated Australian state. The state of South Australia still limits abortions to cases with two doctors' approval.
Have an opinion on this story? Share it!
Sister links[edit]
Abortion in Australia
Sources[edit]
"Australia abortion laws: Terminations now legal in New South Wales" — BBC News Online, September 26, 2019
Paolo Zialcita. "Australia's Largest State Lifts Abortion Restrictions" — NPR, September 26, 2019
Alexandra Smith. "Abortion decriminalised in NSW after bill passes last hurdle" — The Sydney Morning Herald, September 26, 2019
Alex Greenwich. "Reproductive Health Care Reform Bill 2019" — Parliament of New South Wales, September 26, 2019 (date of access) (PDF)
Share this: 
Source: Wikinews
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