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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 10 Hansard (25 November) . . Page.. 2883 ..

MR SMYTH (continuing):

with 15 per cent actually requesting counselling. Mr Speaker, a full list of symptoms would include depression and a sense of loss, frequent weeping, feelings of guilt, loss of self-esteem, isolation, sadness, grief and anxiety, extreme or chronic anger or rage, difficulty concentrating, self-destructive behaviour, suicidal thoughts and attempts, alcohol and/or drug abuse, abuse of relationships, eating disorders, unexpected risk taking, repeat abortions, anxiety attacks and relationship problems. The list goes on and on, Mr Speaker.

It is quite clear to me that whilst we would choose not to accept this, Mr Speaker, we have a duty of care to exercise here. It would be easy to go on and on quoting various reports, but I will not. What I have read would indicate that there are serious downsides to abortion and I truly believe that this information should be available. Mr Osborne's Bill would go at least some of the way to protecting women as well as, hopefully, protecting some of the unborn.

It is curious, Mr Speaker, that with this immense range of information covering a significant number of conditions, from the minor to the life-threatening, women are not being informed. I cannot understand why any reasonable individual cannot see that the right thing to do is to ensure that women are told what they might face as an outcome of abortion. This is all that this Bill seeks to do. (Extension of time granted) Why are we, as a supposedly caring society, allowing women to face the possibility of these post-abortion syndrome conditions when, with the passing of this Bill, we may alleviate some of the suffering that is an outcome of having an abortion?

Mr Speaker, I sought information on the sort of material that is available from the clinic and from Family Planning. A friend actually went to the clinic and initially the only brochure she could get was one on display at the clinic. It has a whole lot of general information. I would suggest it assumes that people going there have gone with one option and that is to have an abortion. On seeking further information she was provided with a series of pamphlets. There is one called "Termination of Pregnancy - Possible After Effects & Complications". This has an introduction. It says that possible after-effects of the operation are surgery-related after-effects, drowsiness, pain, nausea and inability to concentrate. It refers to complications. It lists excessive bleeding, retained products of conception, infection, uterine perforation, continuing pregnancy and ectopic pregnancy, but nowhere in that document does it really alert women to some of the major downsides of the termination of a pregnancy.

There is a pamphlet called "Termination of Pregnancy" and again it has nothing. There is one which has information about anaesthetics. That is a good pamphlet that they would issue. There is one called "Termination of Pregnancy - Post Operative Instructions" and there is almost a one-liner, Mr Speaker. It says:

Feelings of sadness or depression: Women's feelings vary after abortion. It is not unusual to feel sad or depressed two to six days after the operation. This may be a result of the withdrawing of pregnancy hormones. If these feelings persist you should contact the clinic.

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