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Abortion rights under threat from 'Zoe's law', say Australian women's groups Abortion rights under threat from 'Zoe's law', say Australian women's groups
(6 days later)
A debate on "Zoe's law" – which could classify a foetus as a person in New South Wales – has been postponed until next week after women's lobby groups asked for more time to brief MPs on the possible consequences.A debate on "Zoe's law" – which could classify a foetus as a person in New South Wales – has been postponed until next week after women's lobby groups asked for more time to brief MPs on the possible consequences.
Women's groups oppose Zoe's law, seeing it as the first step towards criminalising abortion in the state, since the bill would allow grievous bodily harm charges to be brought against those who hurt a foetus of more than 20 weeks' gestation.Women's groups oppose Zoe's law, seeing it as the first step towards criminalising abortion in the state, since the bill would allow grievous bodily harm charges to be brought against those who hurt a foetus of more than 20 weeks' gestation.
Zoe's law was due to be debated in the state parliament on Thursday after being introduced by Liberal MP Chris Spence, but Spence was asked on Wednesday to delay the debate by a coalition of women's group.Zoe's law was due to be debated in the state parliament on Thursday after being introduced by Liberal MP Chris Spence, but Spence was asked on Wednesday to delay the debate by a coalition of women's group.
Melanie Fernandez, chair of the Women's Electoral Lobby Australia (WELA), one of the groups to ask for the delayed introduction, said Spence initially rejected their request on Wednesday.Melanie Fernandez, chair of the Women's Electoral Lobby Australia (WELA), one of the groups to ask for the delayed introduction, said Spence initially rejected their request on Wednesday.
"We put a media release out and a few hours later he [Spence] called us and said he had a change of heart and would defer the debate until next Thursday," she said."We put a media release out and a few hours later he [Spence] called us and said he had a change of heart and would defer the debate until next Thursday," she said.
Spence's office confirmed the debate had been delayed until next Thursday.Spence's office confirmed the debate had been delayed until next Thursday.
Fernandez said she wanted medical and legal groups to have "proper consultation" with Spence and other MPs on the potential consequences of the bill and the women's lobby groups wanted the opportunity to brief the Liberal party room instead of having to arrange individual meetings with MPs.Fernandez said she wanted medical and legal groups to have "proper consultation" with Spence and other MPs on the potential consequences of the bill and the women's lobby groups wanted the opportunity to brief the Liberal party room instead of having to arrange individual meetings with MPs.
"The bill has been pushed through very quickly and there has been no consultation from Chris Spence or the Liberal party room," she said. "We are really concerned Liberal MPs are going in uninformed."The bill has been pushed through very quickly and there has been no consultation from Chris Spence or the Liberal party room," she said. "We are really concerned Liberal MPs are going in uninformed.
"This bill established personhood for a foetus and this is a very concerning precedent to be setting. That kind of precedent has been used as a first starting point to roll back abortion right in other places, such as states in America.""This bill established personhood for a foetus and this is a very concerning precedent to be setting. That kind of precedent has been used as a first starting point to roll back abortion right in other places, such as states in America."
WELA is working on opposing the bill with Family Planning NSW, Women's Health NSW, Domestic Violence NSW, Rape & Domestic Violence Services Australia, the National Foundation for Australian Women, Reproductive Choice Australia and Children by Choice.WELA is working on opposing the bill with Family Planning NSW, Women's Health NSW, Domestic Violence NSW, Rape & Domestic Violence Services Australia, the National Foundation for Australian Women, Reproductive Choice Australia and Children by Choice.
Opposition has been growing to the bill with the NSW Bar Association and Australian Medical Association also voicing concerns.Opposition has been growing to the bill with the NSW Bar Association and Australian Medical Association also voicing concerns.
The bill was first championed by Christian Democratic Party leader Fred Nile after Brodie Donegan lost her unborn daughter Zoe at 32 weeks of pregnancy when she was hit by a car on Christmas Day in 2009.The bill was first championed by Christian Democratic Party leader Fred Nile after Brodie Donegan lost her unborn daughter Zoe at 32 weeks of pregnancy when she was hit by a car on Christmas Day in 2009.
The driver was charged with driving under the influence of drugs and causing grievous bodily harm but the family wanted charges of murder or manslaughter brought over the loss of Zoe.The driver was charged with driving under the influence of drugs and causing grievous bodily harm but the family wanted charges of murder or manslaughter brought over the loss of Zoe.
Under NSW law Zoe was not technically classed as a baby as she had not taken a physical breath.Under NSW law Zoe was not technically classed as a baby as she had not taken a physical breath.
Donegan took to Facebook to post a passionate defence of the bill last week, saying it was "very tightly written" and she was confident it did not threaten the rights of mothers or medical professionals.Donegan took to Facebook to post a passionate defence of the bill last week, saying it was "very tightly written" and she was confident it did not threaten the rights of mothers or medical professionals.
She wrote that her daughter was 32 weeks old and two kilograms: "She existed and she deserved to be recognised. She was much harder to recover from than my other injuries," Donegan said.She wrote that her daughter was 32 weeks old and two kilograms: "She existed and she deserved to be recognised. She was much harder to recover from than my other injuries," Donegan said.
"This bill is NOT about sending an offender to prison for specific periods of time, it is NOT about murder. It is just about letting that baby get the recognition he or she deserves. I AM pro-choice. I do not want to see any rights taken from women. But I cannot reconcile how the current law works. I cannot reconcile why some legislation recognised the baby and some does not.""This bill is NOT about sending an offender to prison for specific periods of time, it is NOT about murder. It is just about letting that baby get the recognition he or she deserves. I AM pro-choice. I do not want to see any rights taken from women. But I cannot reconcile how the current law works. I cannot reconcile why some legislation recognised the baby and some does not."
The women's groups have asked for a meeting with NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell but claim he is yet to respond.The women's groups have asked for a meeting with NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell but claim he is yet to respond.
O'Farrell's office was contacted for comment.O'Farrell's office was contacted for comment.
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