Law banning protests outside abortion clinics passes SA’s upper house
Protesting near abortion clinics will be banned under new laws that passed SA’s upper house on Wednesday night.
SA News
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Laws that ban anti-abortion campaigners from protesting near abortion clinics passed South Australia’s upper house on Wednesday night.
The Legislative Council voted 14-7 in favour of the bill allowing safe access zones around premises that provide abortion services.
Under the new laws, a 150-metre exclusion zone must be established from the entrance of abortion clinics. Protesting within that zone will be illegal.
After passing the Legislative Council about 10pm on Wednesday, it brings SA in line with most other Australian states and territories.
Greens MLC Tammy Franks, who introduced the bill in the upper house, said until now SA was only one of two Australian states without safe access zones.
Western Australia are currently debating similar laws in parliament.
“For too long our dedicated health workers and the patients for whom they provide care were subjected to harassment, intimidation, and threats while trying to access or provide abortion services,” Ms Franks said.
“What a relief it is that today patients and health workers will no longer be subjected to this behaviour, and will be protected by our laws.”
The bill was initially moved by Labor MP Nat Cook in the House of Assembly.
“I’m so proud to have worked across parties to achieve this great result,” Ms Cook said.
“We’ve taken a huge step in protecting vulnerable people at one of the toughest and most emotional times of their lives. It’s wonderful.”
It comes as the controversial Termination of Pregnancy Bill is due to be debated on Thursday afternoon in the Legislative Council.
The Government introduced the bill, which seeks to decriminalise abortion and remove certain barriers. It would allow terminations to be performed on women less than 22 weeks and six days’ pregnant with the approval of just one doctor, instead of two.
Liberal MLC Dr Nicola Centofanti and Labor MLC Clare Scriven are joining forces to defeat the bill after saying they received more than 6000 letters combined from residents opposed to the changes, compared with 362 in support.
Ms Scriven said people were “dismayed that the Bill is being described as merely moving abortion into a healthcare Act”.
Voting on the bill is not expected to happen until later this month – and it will be dealt with as a conscience vote.
Human Services Minister Michelle Lensink, who introduced the bill, and the Greens’ Tammy Franks remain two of the most prominent supporters of the changes.
