Over the past few months, Zoe’s Law – a proposal that would see any foetus more than 20 weeks old regarded as a person when it comes to charging someone with grievous bodily harm – has attracted a lot of media attention.
But there’s another challenge to women’s access to abortions in Victoria, that you might not have heard of.
A former Liberal politician turned independent – Victorian MP Geoff Shaw – wants his private member’s bill to amend the amends the state’s laws debated before the Victorian state election in November.
Mr Shaw has called Victoria’s laws among “the worst in the world”.
The MP has said that he would like the law changed so that doctors who do not want to perform an abortion on a patient, have no obligation to refer their patient to another doctor who might be willing.
Shaw’s member’s bill is in response to a 2008 amendment to Victorian law, which requires doctors who have a conscientious objection to abortion to refer a patient to another doctor.
This change would have huge implications for women seeking an abortion – especially those in rural communities whose options may already be limited, or young women who could having trouble navigating the medical system.
Mr Shaw is an evangelical Christian with strongly-held beliefs, and was granted permission by the Premier Denis Napthine last year to draw up his private member’s bill.
Here’s where it gets more complicated.
The controversial MP holds the balance-of-power in the state. The Premier Denis Napthine has said he opposes changes to the law – and in December 2013 said that, “I have no intention whatsoever of introducing or supporting legislation that would reduce a woman’s right to choose.”
However, in 2013 Dr Napthine also told The Sunday Age he might allow a conscience vote on the issue of reforms to abortion law.
Now, the Opposition is claiming that the Government may do a deal with the Mr Shaw, in order to hold onto government. Labor Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews has said his party would also not support Mr Shaw’s bill, and hopes that the Liberal government wont seek to make a deal.
“I don’t think that’s the way these very serious matters should be treated,” Mr Andrews told the ABC.
Mr Shaw, in his interview with the ABC, was clear about what he thought of Victoria’s laws.
“The laws in Victoria are some of the worst laws in the world. There’s gender selection abortion, it allows partial birth abortion. I’m not in favour of that.”
What do you think of the proposal?
Top Comments
If you can't get your head around the fact that women need to have control over their own reproduction, for the good of EVERYONE including children , then good luck to you. But maybe also spare a thought for the millions of children who have been taken away from their parents because they have been abused and neglected. Do you really want more children being born into unwanted situations??? Abortion has been around since time immemorial. Do you want it to be safe or do you want women to risk their lives for it? Abortion under pre-historic legislation is most definitely a horror. Under modern day, good health care it is a bearable if emotionally difficult procedure. Pro-choice is about making the choice for yourself.
You don't have to be religious to be anti abortion. Plenty of atheists who are pro life too and plenty of church goers who are unfortunately pro abortion. If you don't understand the many horrors related to abortion don't write an article about it.
And peeps, if you're not against it, even being for 'choice' means you are still for it. It's like saying you don't believe in the death penalty but not arguing against it... then you mustn't feel strongly enough. Being pro life isn't about judging women who are in/have been in scary/horrific situations, its about protecting the innocent- mum included