Page 1129 - Week 05 - Tuesday, 23 June 1992
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Under the current restrictive legislation in the ACT, women go to Sydney to the special purpose clinics, ranging from small scale feminist collectives through clinics run by medical practitioners to private clinics catering for larger numbers of women seeking terminations. There is no reason why that cross-section should not occur in the ACT. These pregnancy termination clinics offer safe, efficient, timely and non-judgmental - I emphasise that - services for the termination of pregnancy. Again, it improves the options for women. The question of pregnancy termination is not new. It is not new for the Labor Party, even though members of the Liberal Party might try to create the impression that it is. It has been part of Labor's platform for a decade. The issue was raised by the Liberals during the election campaign earlier this year. However, it generated little debate at the time.
Mr Humphries: It was not raised by you; it had to be raised by us.
MR BERRY: You could not get it to kick off because it was not a matter of interest. This shows that most Canberrans are not opposed to liberalising pregnancy termination. That is the clear position. Back in the days before self-government the debate raged about the provision of pregnancy termination, as has been discussed. I am talking about the examination by the Standing Committee on Education and Health, to which Mr Cornwell referred. Since that time, and the time of the House of Assembly report, many groups have lobbied for a change in the ACT law. These groups have played a key role in promoting the arguments in favour of a woman's right to choose. That is what I stand for - the woman's right to choose.
I would like to thank all those who have put their shoulders to the wheel in pursuing this course and who have put a lot of their personal time and energy into pushing for the repeal of this very old-fashioned law. They recognise, as many progressive people recognise, that community support for the right to choose has increased massively. It is clearly time to reform this outdated law and to ensure that women have access to safe and professional services locally.
Question put:
That this Bill be agreed to in principle.
The Assembly voted -
AYES, 10 NOES, 7
Mr Berry Mr Cornwell
Mrs Carnell Mr De Domenico
Mr Connolly Mrs Grassby
Ms Ellis Mr Humphries
Ms Follett Mr Kaine
Mr Lamont Mr Stevenson
Ms McRae Mr Westende
Mr Moore
Ms Szuty
Mr Wood
Question so resolved in the affirmative.
Bill agreed to in principle.
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