Freedom to Choose
GOOD NEWS – Abortion is now decriminalised in NSW. WEL NSW and the Pro-Choice Alliance together lobbied the NSW Parliament to pass the Bill on 26 September 2019.
The Abortion Bill was passed in Victoria on 10 October 2008. Abortion is now decriminalised here.
Ireland votes at referendum 2 to 1 to repeal laws against abortion.
URGENT – To our Victorian politicians: The women of Victoria are dismayed at the Victorian Liberal Party in planning to amend the laws governing abortion. You will know that we fought for the right of women to own their own bodies and their reproductive processes. We strongly object to others forcing their views on women. We also assert that hospitals that receive funding from the taxpayer should not bring their own bias to decisions for other persons. We note that the rights of men to have vasectomies have never been disputed.
Women’s Electoral Lobby believes that every woman should have the freedom to choose whether to have an abortion or not. There were terrible consequences when poor women inserted metal coat hangers into their vaginas to procure an abortion. This must never happen again. We must remain eternally vigilant that women do not lose their gains.
The Victorian Law Reform Commission (VLRC) Report on Law Of Abortion was tabled in the Victorian parliament on 29 May 2008. The VLRC said “Abortion is readily available in Melbourne through public and private providers .. Abortion is regulated by health legislation, hospital regulations and laws that govern the health profession. These laws are comprehensive and the Commission does not recommend any further specific regulation of abortion services.”
Victorian law provides for a two-staged approach with different rules for early abortions and late abortions which are defined as over 24 weeks. The only requirements for early abortion are the woman’s consent and the procedure to be performed by a medical practitioner, including use of RU486. After 24 weeks, abortion is lawful if a doctor determines risk of harm to the woman. Read the Final Report of the Victorian Law Reform Commission, May 2008, “Law of Abortion” at lawreform.vic.gov.au.
Be aware that the statistics often quoted for abortion numbers come from Medicare statistics which include all curettes, which of course are ordinary procedures for many women with spontaneous abortions or at menopause. WEL National Policy (see below) spells out abortion definitions and the sane and sensible situation on freedom to choose safe abortion for all Australian women. Abortions are now legal throughout Australia, but with varying State based conditions.
International News * In Dakota, USA, new legislation defines human life as commencing at conception, which makes abortion a crime. * And Catholic billionaire Melinda Gates has thrown down the gauntlet to the Vatican by dedicating her life to improving access to contraception across the globe. CLICK for “Catholics and Conscience“.
WEL National Policy. WEL affirms that women (regardless of marital status, religious affiliation, cultural background and sexual preferences) must have access to: * all forms of safe and legal health services and medical procedures which relate to their sexual health and reproductive lives; * well-researched, unbiased, accurate and easily understood information which enables them to make informed decisions about health services and medical procedures; * safe, legal and affordable abortion services. WEL believes that abortion should be regulated under health laws.
WEL believes that all references to non-surgical abortion be removed from the criminal codes of all States.
WEL believes that surgical abortion, performed by qualified health professionals, should be removed from the criminal codes of all States.
Definitions of Abortion. Abortion is the interruption of pregnancy before the 21st week (after that time, the term is miscarriage). This occurs in two ways:
– Spontaneous abortion, which is an abortion that occurs naturally.
– Induced abortion is where the pregnancy is interruption by artificial means (also called termination of pregnancy).
2018. Tasmania now has no abortion clinic so women have to travel to the mainland for abortions. One woman who did this was sacked when her employer was notified about it.