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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 11 Hansard (21 October) . . Page.. 3492 ..

MR BERRY (continuing):

Mr Speaker, unlike you, whenever the opportunity presents itself to expand and improve women's rights on the issue of abortion, I will vote for it. I will stand up in this place and argue passionately for it, and I will use all of the devices which the standing orders allow to convince other members to support it, even if they feel a little confronted by the way I deal with it. It is an issue worthy of passion. I understand how people who oppose abortion also deal with it with passion. I do not mind defending my views and I do not mind my views being attacked. I am perfectly able to parry the charge from the other side on this issue.

This issue will stay with us, I suspect, for many years to come. As I have said before, it is my aim that one day it will not be a criminal offence in the ACT for a woman to terminate a pregnancy and her decision will not be encumbered by the moral views of other people imposed on her as a result of regulations like this one.

Question put:

That the motion (Mr Berry's ) be agreed to.

The Assembly voted -

AYES, 8   	NOES, 9

Mr Berry  	Ms Carnell
Mr Corbell  	Mr Cornwell
Mr Hargreaves  	Mr Hird
Mr Moore   	Mr Humphries
Mr Quinlan   	Mr Kaine
Mr Stanhope   	Mr Osborne
Ms Tucker   	Mr Rugendyke
Mr Wood  	Mr Smyth
 		Mr Stefaniak
Question so resolved in the negative.

MENTAL HEALTH (TREATMENT AND CARE) AMENDMENT BILL (NO 2) 1999

Debate resumed from 19 October 1999, on motion by Mr Moore:

That this Bill be agreed to in principle.

MR WOOD (5.07): Mr Speaker, the Opposition will be supporting these amendments. Mr Moore has described their technical and corrective nature, saying that they ensure that the Act is able to be implemented as it is intended in every circumstance. It is my understanding that the Act has now been operating for about three weeks. I would hope that it is going along well. We will support these measures to remove some of the glitches that were there in the first instance.

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