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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 9 Hansard (21 August) . . Page.. 2599 ..

MR CORBELL (continuing):

people have strong philosophical and religious views about the practice of abortion. That is the only thing that makes the difference.

Mr Pratt: Abortion pulls in a range of psychological issues, as well as medical and physical.

MR CORBELL: I've listened to your debates in silence and I'd ask you to do me the same courtesy.

Mr Pratt: Well, reflect it accurately.

MR CORBELL: I've listened in silence to your contributions tonight and I'd ask you to do me the same courtesy. That is the only difference, Mr Deputy Speaker, in the long run-that there is a philosophical and religious dimension to this debate that draws that distinction between the procedure of an abortion and some other procedure which is equally potentially life-threatening or has the potential to cause serious physical harm. That's the only difference, in my view. And that really goes to the point that Mr Quinlan made around the notion of guilt. I would share Mr Quinlan's sentiments in that regard.

The other comment I would like to make about this legislation relates to the existing provision for the reporting of instances of procedures at the abortion clinic. This, again, is a level of mandated information provision which I do not believe is in any way necessary-for one very important reason, and that is that I don't believe it is an accurate portrayal of the situation in the territory. It captures, in a data sense, only those women who choose to use the clinic here in the ACT. It does not, for example, capture those instances where women who live in the ACT choose to use the clinic in Queanbeyan, or a clinic in some other part of Australia, such as Sydney or Melbourne.

The sad reality is that, because of the legislation that was passed a number of years ago, women have chosen to go interstate to procure this procedure-they have not even been able to do that here in the ACT because of the requirements imposed by a previous Assembly through the legislation which we are tonight debating changing significantly.

There is a far better source of information, which is already publicly available. I think Mr Berry has made this point previously, but it is worth reiterating. The Medicare statistics actually capture all of the instances of all citizens, and all women in the ACT, who choose to undertake an abortion. That data, surely, is sufficient. Why impose an additional set of requirements which first of all will not be accurate and, secondly, would duplicate an existing activity? It is simply another extension of a particular moral view which I believe has no place in the maintenance of what should be a straightforward and normal procedure between a doctor and that doctor's patient-for which informed consent is the highest and most responsible requirement and which surely should be in the hands of those two people.

Mr Smyth: I seek leave to speak again, Mr Deputy Speaker.

MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: You have spoken already.

Mr Smyth: And I seek leave to speak again.

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