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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 9 Hansard (21 August) . . Page.. 2551 ..

MS MacDONALD (continuing):

I am also concerned about the possibility that someone who bashes a pregnant woman with the intention of causing a miscarriage will be treated under normal assault law. I believe that this is an issue we will need to revisit in light of recent cases in Queensland and elsewhere. I believe that we will need to revisit it whether or not these bills get up today.

Finally, I do have an issue with terminations past the first trimester, except in the case of foetal abnormality and danger to the life of the mother, as I have already stated. In this respect, I believe that I reflect the opinion of a greater majority of the people who feel, for want of a better word, squeamish about the thought of abortion post the first trimester.

There is one issue in this whole debate that really annoys me, that is, the tendency of people from both sides of the argument to make assumptions and to patronise me while trying to convince me of their view and to make assumptions about the opposing side of the argument. One assumption is that, by having a 72-hour cooling-off period, a woman can take the time to think seriously about the issues. That sounds good in theory but it fails to take into account that most women having to face the choice of an abortion have already thought through the issue for at least four weeks. Of course, there are some exceptions to this case, but in the majority of cases the women concerned have had several weeks to think about the issue.

All of you in the Assembly are aware of my recent marriage. A lot of the people in the community would be unaware that my husband takes the opposite view on this issue and many others, as in all healthy relationships, I am glad to say. That is one reason I would prefer not to have this debate today. But it annoys me considerably that people are concerned that I may vote one way or the other because of my husband's views. Whilst discussing the issue of abortion will never be easy for the two of us, my husband has ensured that I have continually listened to all the arguments.

Partially as a result of his prompting, I have investigated the issue as widely as I possibly could. I have not changed my opinion-I know that this is a great disappointment to him-but I do have a greater understanding of his side of the argument and I do respect him for the views that he holds. I have to say that it is part of the reason that I love him that he does hold those views so deeply.

In the past eight months, I have thought through this issue and revisited my beliefs on abortion. I have listened to arguments from Right to Life and Options for Women. I have visited the clinic where the first trimester terminations take place and questioned the staff about both the procedure and the information given out. I have spoken with one of the doctors who perform terminations beyond 20 weeks and questioned him at great length.

At the end of all of this, I have come to this position. I do believe in a woman's right to choose when she is faced with the difficult situation of an unwanted pregnancy. I have known quite a few women who have had an abortion and not one of them has taken this decision lightly. In fact, for all of them it was a very difficult period in their lives.

I want to ensure that women who face the choice are supported whatever choice they make, without additional pressure being placed upon them. Whether that be to make the choice to continue with the termination or to continue with the pregnancy, I think that we

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