‘Zoe’s law’ mum pushes for separate law for unborn baby deaths
The NSW mum who inspired “Zoe’s law” legislation has dismissed a draft government bill as “too conservative”.
NSW
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The NSW mum who inspired legislation to recognise the death of an unborn baby in a criminal act has dismissed a draft government bill as “too conservative” and “not worth it”.
Brodie Donegan lost her baby when she was hit by a drug-affected driver when 32 weeks pregnant on Christmas day in 2009.
Ms Donegan said she told the government the proposed bill wasn’t good enough two months ago — but her suggestions on how to change the legislation were not adopted.
“When I have spoken to (Premier) Gladys Berejeklin and (Attorney-General) Mark Speakman as part of the proposal last year I told them that it was important to seek a separate law that would punish someone for killing an unborn child, otherwise there was no point,” she told The Daily Telegraph.
“What the government is seeking to do is just not worth it.”
Responding to the criticism on Wednesday, the Premier said releasing draft legislation is just the start of a long process.
“If this was easier it would have happened before, and that’s why it’s taken so long to make sure we get it as right as possible,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“I want to see a bill pass both houses of parliament that recognises unborn children who died because of the negligence of criminality and others and certainly that is what the proposed legislation does,” she said.
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