Jackie Trad backs safe access zones at Queensland abortion clinics

ESTABLISHING “safe access zones” outside Queensland clinics that undertake abortions to stop women running the gauntlet of right to life protesters is a sensible move, Queensland Deputy Premier Jackie Trad says.

ESTABLISHING “safe access zones” outside Queensland clinics that undertake abortions to stop women running the gauntlet of right to life protesters is a sensible move, Queensland Deputy Premier Jackie Trad says.

Queensland is expected to be the next state to establish the zones after the NSW Parliament last week passed new laws blocking protesters from coming within 150m of the clinics.

A Queensland Law Reform Commission report on new laws to decriminalise abortion and to establish safe access zones here is due to be handed to the Palaszczuk Government within weeks.

Ms Trad – who is pro-choice – supports establishing the safe access zones.

“I think that is incredibly sensible. It is something that was adopted in NSW overwhelmingly recently through law changes,” she said.

“Here in Queensland we are awaiting the report of the Law Reform Commission and we committed to last term study all of the elements of the recommendations of the QLRC.”

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said: “This is something that we are determined to get right and we will look forward to receiving the QLRC report.”