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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 6 Hansard (2 September) . . Page.. 1733 ..

MR BERRY (continuing):

I am giving Mr Osborne the chance to listen to the community. It was, after all, Mr Osborne who said to the community, "I will not turn back the clock". His recent actions are, of course, quite contrary to the promise that he made to the electors. People in the ACT community are entitled to form the view that they have been deliberately misled by the introduction of this Bill. Mr Osborne, you have the chance now to confirm your promise that you would not turn back the clock. This motion will surely do this. It will affect the 1,700 ACT women who seek terminations in the ACT. It will affect the 2,000 women from the ACT and the region who seek terminations in the ACT. It will not stop terminations of pregnancy. It will merely force them to go somewhere else.

Ms Carnell: I take a point of order, Mr Speaker. Mr Berry is debating the Bill rather than the motion, which I suggest is out of order.

MR BERRY: No, I am talking about the effects on women and why they are upset.

Ms Carnell: The motion is quite clear. It is asking Mr Osborne to withdraw his Bill.

MR SPEAKER: I want to make this quite clear to all members of the Assembly. We are not debating the merits or demerits of abortion. We are debating a very narrow motion which requests Mr Osborne to move to withdraw his Health Regulation (Abortions) Bill. I would remind all members that that is what we are debating and I shall listen to the debate very carefully. Mr Berry, be very careful, please.

MR BERRY: I am going to the reasons why it should be withdrawn. It should be withdrawn because of the disquiet that it has created in the community. We saw an example - - -

MR SPEAKER: If you maintain that line that will be all right, but do not start canvassing the merits or demerits.

MR BERRY: Indeed. It should be withdrawn because of the disquiet that it would cause amongst the 1,700 women who might be seeking those services here in the ACT and who see those services as being in doubt. It should be withdrawn because of the disquiet that it is causing 2,000 women in the ACT and the region who anticipate that those services will no longer be available to them. Yesterday's demonstration was a clear example of community concern about this, and there were many of us out there supporting the cause because we are really pro-choice.

This motion is the contemporary view of the community. This is the view of the community as stated yesterday, not the view of the community as stated a week or two ago, or 12 months ago, or two years ago. It is the view of the community, as stated yesterday, who heard various members, not including me, expressing views similar to mine in relation to this matter. As I said, they heard the Chief Minister say that she was a pro-choice person and she would oppose the Bill.

Ms Carnell: That is true. Absolutely. And I will.

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