A new bill seeking to expand abortion access in NSW has kicked off pro-life protests attended by ex-PM Tony Abbott and Catholic Archbishop of Australia Anthony Fisher.
That bill has now passed the lower house with nurse practitioners and registered midwives one step closer to being allowed to prescribe abortion medication to terminate pregnancies of up to nine weeks across the state.
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The Greens MP who introduced the proposed law in February, Dr Amanda Cohn told The Briefing in Monday’s episode the reform will put NSW in step with other states and follow federal TGA advice.
Cohn says it’ll give women in the state more certainty: “I think people who are advocates for women’s rights or reproductive rights in New South Wales and across Australia have been really anxious that our rights might be eroded, especially when you look at what’s happening in places like the US where several states have had abortion bans in place that have killed women.”
The bill was passed 65 to 20 and will return to the upper house in the coming weeks to be voted on again before being turned into law.
The Briefing also spoke to University of Adelaide Law Professor Dr Joanna Howe, the lead advocate, who opposed to the bill.
Howe described the bill as radical on her Instagram, saying she and her supporters are mourning for the health workers she says were opposed to the bill.
Dr Howe was accused by NSW Premier Chris Minns and leader of the opposition Mark Speakman of using bullying tactics and Americanising our politics.
Allegations that Dr Howe denies.
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