Page 3800 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 27 August 2008

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Title, as amended, agreed to.

Question put:

That the bill, as amended, be agreed to.

The Assembly voted—

Question so resolved in the affirmative.

Abortion

MR GENTLEMAN (Brindabella) (5.08): I move:

That this Assembly:

(1) recognises the ACT Legislative Assembly’s progressive law reform in the area of abortion and a woman’s right to choose; and

(2) reaffirms its support for the laws reformed including the de-criminalisation of abortion in the ACT.

The discussion surrounding pro-choice or a woman’s right to choose has long been filled with controversy and today I suspect we will see again a diverse range of views. Already I have received several emails from the Canberra community both supporting and condemning this motion.

I have put forward this motion because I strongly believe that recognition should be given to this Assembly for ensuring that a woman’s right to choose without risk of criminal prosecution is protected. I have put forward this motion because I strongly believe that this Assembly should be proud to have conducted the debate.

I firmly believe that the progressive reform agenda carried out by the Stanhope Labor government, both in minority and majority, over the past eight years is something that all Canberrans should be proud of. As I mentioned, the debate surrounding a woman’s right to choose has long been a controversial one.

Six years on from the previous debate and in light of the Leader of the Opposition’s statements in the Canberra Times of Saturday before last where he is quoted as saying

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