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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 9 Hansard (21 August) . . Page.. 2586 ..

MS GALLAGHER: Vicki, we have listened to a lot of stuff you have said that is not true. I believe that is true. Real choice is about, as far as possible, having a neutral environment in which to make a decision and then having the decision accepted as legitimate and correct for the person who made it. The bill Mr Berry seeks to repeal undermines the process of choice by undermining women, devaluing their choices, questioning the legitimacy of their decision-making ability, and by patronising them.

I believe that the Health Regulation (Maternal Health Information) Act limits the ability of the women of Canberra to access true equality because it limits and questions their ability to make the most personal of choices. The 72-hour waiting period not only undermines a woman's decision, it suggests that women are not capable of making such a considered decision at the same time as reducing their access to abortion services. We heard Mr Humphries comparing that to buying a vacuum cleaner and having to wait 10 days before you could decide.

I would suggest that, in the analogy he used, perhaps before the door-to-door salesman had turned up on the doorstep, the person had not thought about whether they wanted to buy a vacuum cleaner. However, I believe that, if you have an unplanned pregnancy and you are not sure what to do about it, you are thinking about it for a lot longer than 72 hours.

During the past few months, I visited the Reproductive Health Care Services on two occasions. One occasion was because I had received a lot of information saying that, if Mr Berry's bill were to succeed, women would not have access to information about the procedure-and that they would not have to be informed about it.

I do not know how many other members of this place went, but I attended the clinic and asked to be taken right through the process of a woman using the clinic. The staff helped whatever member was there. I know that a few members went. The staff took time out of their schedules to educate me about their service.

The Reproductive Health Care Services currently provide well in excess of what is required under the maternal health information act. I will list what they provide.

They provide a brochure which explains the procedure in detail, the steps associated with the procedure, if the woman decides to go along with the procedure, what she should bring with her, pre and post-operative care, cost, and issues such as transport and child care.

There is also a leaflet on clients' rights and responsibilities which lists women's rights, including the right to detailed information in relation to condition, treatment, side effects, possible outcomes-in order to make informed choices-and details of the complaints procedure. There is a pamphlet about sedation, local anaesthetic including risks, the preparation required, and recovery. There is a leaflet which provides post-operative care instructions, and one on possible effects and complications. There is a consent form, information about the Health Regulation (Maternal Health Information) Act, a declaration form, two forms for administrative information and client progress notes, and a leaflet entitled "How to Cope Successfully After Abortion".

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