Abortion law change expected from Queensland Law Reform Commission review
PHOTO: Protesters in the Brisbane CBD this week called for the State Government to decriminalise abortion. (ABC: Kristian Silva)
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.
Sinead Canning, the campaign manager of Pro Choice Queensland, said it was astonishing that Queensland still lagged behind other states and nations in relation to abortion law reform.
"The law hasn't meaningfully been changed in 119 years," Ms Canning said.
"That's a failure of the Queensland Parliament.
"It would be unthinkable for the Law Reform Commission to come back with a negative recommendation."
While staunch opposition to abortion remained in some quarters, Ms Canning said she believed most Queenslanders were ready for immediate change.
"The reasons for abortion are varied and complex and we need to put that decision in the hands of women and their doctors," she said.
PHOTO: About 1,000 people took part in an anti-abortion rally outside State Parliament in March. (ABC News)
Ms Canning said any legislative reform must include exclusion zones to prevent anti-abortion protesters harassing patients as they walk into clinics.
"It's really harrowing for patients having to go past people that are holding foetus dolls and baby clothes, and they're being screamed at," she said.
Anti-abortion views still strongly held
Before she had her own children, Angela Duff was an abortion clinic protester.
PHOTO: Toowoomba mother Angela Duff said she believed many women who had abortions regretted the move. (ABC News: Nancy Webb)
The mother of three said that rather than harass women heading into abortion clinics for a termination, she would calmly offer alternatives.
"It was what we would call a peaceful prayerful protest," Mrs Duff said.
"So often you hear women who've had an abortion — their regret in terms of having an abortion — and so I wanted to provide that witness, that peaceful witness that says abortion is not a good solution," she said.
Mrs Duff opposed the decriminalisation of abortion.
"I do believe that the foetus is a human life and that we need to respect both the mother and the child and that would come from my understanding of human life, from my faith background," she said.
PHOTO: Ms Canning said abortion clinics needed exclusion zones so women could not be confronted by protesters. (ABC News)
Mrs Duff said she was also worried by the prospect of exclusion zones around abortion clinics.
"It will stop freedom of speech and it will just protect an industry that is making money out of abortions and I really do feel that there needs to be a voice that says, 'no, abortion is not a good alternative'," she said.
Premier pushing for law change
The LRC report on abortion laws is not expected to be made public immediately.
The Queensland Government has 14 parliamentary sitting days before it is compelled to table the report.
Labor MPs are likely to be granted a conscience vote on the issue, while the LNP said it wanted to examine any new laws before the party decided its position on the matter.
PHOTO: Pro-choice campaigner Tiyana Jovanovic and a provocative placard at a rally in Brisbane this week. (ABC: Kristian Silva)
But Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has given strong indications she wants the law to change.
"We are one of two states remaining where it is a crime to have an abortion," Ms Palaszczuk said.
"We've got 50 per cent women in our cabinet ... we are determined to ensure it is dealt with this term of government — that is the priority of the government."
Ms Canning said the sooner that happened the better.
"Women can't wait anymore. They've waited 119 years to be able to access healthcare services that people in other first world countries and states in Australia can access very easily," she said.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-...d-change-law-reform-commission-report/9859910
