Page 2332 - Week 07 - Wednesday, 2 August 2017
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(2) reaffirms its strong commitment to putting women’s health and wellbeing outcomes first, noting in particular:
(a) the Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights states that everyone has the right to access healthcare that respects the patient, their cultural beliefs, values and personal characteristics; and
(b) a woman’s right to self-determine and exercise autonomy in respect of her reproductive and sexual health is critical to her full and fair participation in our society, including the achievement of her own educational, economic and familial aspirations;
(3) recognises the significant and positive steps taken by ACT Labor, the ACT Greens and the ACT Government to stand up for Canberra women by taking a progressive and supportive approach to women’s health, including:
(a) supporting a woman’s right to choose, by decriminalising and regulating for safe and accessible abortion in the ACT in 2002; and
(b) implementing a protest-free zone around approved medical facilities in March 2016 to protect women who have already made the difficult decision to terminate a pregnancy;
(4) proudly recognises the diversity of backgrounds, values and beliefs that make up the ACT community, while reinforcing that an individual’s own, legal, health choices should not be the subject of interference by others;
(5) notes that the ACT Liberals have publicly espoused a deeply conservative health ideology which shows a lack of understanding and lack of respect for the autonomy, dignity and health of Canberra women, including:
(a) attempting to amend legislation in 2015 to water down the protections for women provided by the protest-free zone around approved medical facilities;
(b) statements in May 2017 from the ACT Liberals Shadow Health Minister supporting a regressive and oppressive approach to women’s reproductive rights;
(c) a column written in May 2017 by Mr Andrew Wall MLA, ACT Liberals Member for Brindabella, in which he criticised the ACT Government’s efforts to publicly recognise and pay tribute to inspiring and dynamic activists, including feminists who fought for women’s rights;
(d) the actions of the Shadow Minister for Women, Mrs Giulia Jones MLA, in February 2016, when she addressed the National Civic Council—an ultra-conservative group vehemently opposed to same-sex marriage, a woman’s right to choose and divorce; and
(e) statements from the Leader of the Opposition at the 2016 Australian Christian Lobby Election Forum, in which he indicated all abortions are immoral; and
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