Page 3802 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 27 August 2008
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
I wish to echo that sentiment here today. We are elected by our constituency to do a job. That job is to legislate on all issues and, in doing so, we must ensure that we are provided with a sufficient amount of expert information. We must ensure that the decisions that we make reflect not only our own beliefs but those of the people we represent. After all, the people that we represent have a right to know what, if any, beliefs a current or future representative may have if it is going to reflect on how they make their decisions.
I did note a comment at a public forum recently: “A person whose religious beliefs oblige them to oppose abortion may not come out and implement a law banning it, but they might cease funding clinics, or other similar sideways actions.” I believe that is an important point to raise. As I said in my opening remarks, if the Leader of the Opposition wishes to raise the issue of a woman’s right to choose, then let us have the debate where decisions can be made that affect it. As this Assembly has shown over recent years, we are not afraid to tackle the big issues.
As I said, I was not an elected member of the Assembly at the time of the debate in 2002. I was, however, enormously proud, as a resident of the ACT, to see our local government taking on the challenge that other jurisdictions have reluctantly pursued in part. I was enormously proud to see the ACT Legislative Assembly support laws that remove the threat of criminal prosecution for those exercising their right to choose.
Since the 2002 debate here in the Assembly, there has continued to be a monumental movement for other states to follow the ACT’s lead. I will read from a press statement issued in 2005 by the group known as Reproductive Choice Australia:
A nation-wide coalition of women’s health organisations and pro-choice groups has emerged to combat recent attacks on women’s reproductive rights by conservative federal MPs.
Reproductive Choice Australia was formed to provide a voice for the 81%+ of Australians who believe in a woman’s right to decide when, and under what circumstances, to continue with a pregnancy.
“Reproductive Choice Australia is collectively taking action to protect the existing reproductive rights of women and address the many shortcomings in the law and service delivery in Australia,” said Dr Leslie Cannold, ethicist at Melbourne University’s Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics.
Reproductive Choice Australia is a coalition of over 20 organisations including Sexual Health & Family Planning Australia, Children by Choice, the Public Health Association of Australia, the Australian Women’s Health Network, the Women’s Electoral Lobby, and all state based Pro-choice coalitions.
On the point of other jurisdictions, I am pleased to announce that the women’s affairs minister in the Victorian parliament, Ms Maxine Morand, last week tabled a bill that will remove further restrictions on a woman’s right to choose in Victoria. In her speech, Ms Morand said:
Women deserved legal certainty when making difficult choices about their reproductive health. Modern legislation that reflects current clinical practice and community standards is long overdue.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .