Page 3838 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 19 September 2018
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medication at this point in time regardless of a change to the ACT’s Health Act. The government’s amendments to Ms Le Couteur’s bill recognise this reality.
The third area is that of conscientious objection, which is the refusal to do something—in this case an abortion—as it conflicts with a person’s religious, moral or other beliefs. The bill includes a provision on conscientious objection which reflects the codes of conduct for doctors, nurses, midwives and pharmacists. The government supports the inclusion of a conscientious objection provision but will seek to insert a further clause to clarify that conscientious objection does not apply where a woman is having a complication from an abortion.
The fourth area relates to exclusion zones. To minimise barriers to access and to protect women accessing abortion services, the Labor government introduced a patient privacy zone around the Marie Stopes facility at 1 Moore Street in Civic in 2016. Women who have made the difficult decision to seek an abortion have the right to access the services they need without being forced to endure the judgement of others.
I recognise the recent court ruling that silent vigil within the privacy zone is not considered a protest, but I will continue to monitor the situation with a view to ensuring that women do not feel harassed, threatened or judged when accessing health services.
As it stands, the bill does not address the question of exclusion zones at other facilities that will prescribe the medication. I will, therefore, propose an amendment that allows the minister to declare an exclusion zone where it may be considered necessary. This will allow a medical practice offering medical abortion services to opt in should they choose for the protection and privacy of those accessing and those providing these services.
Lastly is the issue of timing. It is important to ensure that in widening the scope for the provision of abortion services in the ACT appropriate support mechanisms are in place in the territory prior to commencement. The government will, therefore, propose that the bill will come into effect no later than 12 months after it passes. This will allow time for: consultation on implementation with the medical profession and service providers; appropriate supports to be put in place; all necessary training completed before commencement; and a treatment pathway for ACT patients, particularly where complications may arise, to be well-established and understood with necessary protocols in place.
The government’s focus is on increasing accessibility for women and improving affordability. Both are fundamental. In consulting relevant stakeholders in relation to this important bill I have spoken with some of the GPs who want to be able to provide the option of medical abortions to women of the ACT. These GPs are well aware of their professional obligations to undertake the required training as well as the provision of suitable after-care pathways to people accessing these services.
We have also been working with the Women’s Centre for Health Matters to gain an insight into the barriers faced by women in the ACT seeking an abortion, particularly
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