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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 10 Hansard (25 November) . . Page.. 2893 ..

MR CORBELL (continuing):

The ACT Discrimination Commissioner provided some comments on this Bill, which I found concerning, in relation to whether it could actually result in discrimination. These views have already been canvassed in this place. I hope that all members have received a copy of Ms Follett's comments to the Attorney-General. I urge members to read them rather than canvass it again here. I do that because I want to finish with some comments from women themselves.

As I said earlier in my speech, there are two women in this chamber who will vote on this Bill; the rest of us are men. The voice of women in this debate will be a minority one. That is an unfortunate outcome of the last election. But I want to take the opportunity to read into the Hansard some quotes from letters that I have received from women which I think make clear their concerns. The first letter reads:

The right to a choice is the issue at stake, not the problem of whether or not we personally believe that abortion is right or wrong. Women throughout Western history have systematically been denied the right to control their own bodies both physically and politically. If once we believe that an individual's right to determine their own course is compromised by that which is mired in outdated historical inconsistencies, we lose the preconceptions that allow us to believe that we will live in a society that privileges freedom of choice over another's imposition of will.

For one person, or a group of persons, to impose their belief that abortion is wrong (whatever political and legal form that that takes) on a group of persons who do not even judge the issue by the same criteria, is an unbearable imposition of will by one upon another.

(Further extension of time granted)

I turn to another letter I received - this time from a woman who is a committed Christian. I quote again:

As a convinced Christian who endeavours to put into practice the principals of my faith I realise the complexity and imperfection of human society. Within the Australian Community request for termination of pregnancy come from all faiths and all strata of society. Restrictive legislation against abortion will not change the social trends that have led to the increased abortion rates. This change can only come from a change of heart.

Another woman wrote to me:

Whether or not we agree with the reasons a woman chooses to terminate a pregnancy is irrelevant. Her decision should be a private one. I resent the paternalistic attitude that a woman is not sufficiently emotionally mature to decide whether or not she wants to have a baby. Not every woman wants to be a mother.

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