

NEWS (HTTP://JUNKEE.COM/CATEGORY/NEWS)

The Push To Decriminalise Abortion In

Queensland Has Been Scrapped
by OSMAN FARUQI (HTTP://JUNKEE.COM/AUTHOR/OSMAN-FARUQI)  28 FEBRUARY 2017

   
(http (http (http (mai
://ju ://ju ://ju lto:?
nke nke nke suj
e.co e.co e.co ect=
m/a m/a m/a The
orti orti orti +Pu
on- on- on- sh+T
won won won o+D
t- t- t- ecri
decr decr decr min
imin imin imin alis
alis alis alis e+A
ed- ed- ed- orti
que que que on+I
ensl ensl ensl n+Q
A ill to remove aortion from the Queensland criminal code has een withdrawn after the
Lieral National Part announced and- and- and- uee
(http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/queensland-government/queensland-
opp opp opp nsla
aortion-law-reform-laor-id-to-avert-failure/news-
ositi ositi ositi nd+
stor/8163f9f472f493429c6fd38a35f3f3) it would vote down an attempt to decriminalise
the medical procedure. on- on- on- Has
The ill had een put forward  independent MP Ro Pne who had een calling on oth the
pro pro pro +e

Laor government and the LNP to support his proposal. Aortion is currentl the onl medical
procedure in the Queensland criminal code.
mis mis mis en+
ed- ed- ed- cra
Anone found guilt of “unlawfull” having an aortion in Queensland could face up to seven
loc loc loc ppe
ears in prison. The onl legal justification for aortion in Queensland is if a pregnanc risks
our phsical or mental health. k- k- k- d&
cha cha cha od
nge nge nge =htt
s/97 s/97 s/97 p://j
RELATED
030 030 030 unk
(http://junkee.com/nsw-
and-queensland-might-
finall-e-getting-
)
around-to-
decriminalising-
) ) ee.c
aortion-

NSW And
alread/78063)
om/
(http://junkee.com/nsw-
Queensland and-queensland-might-
Might Finally, ao
៵�nally-be-getting-
Finally Be around-to-
Getting Around decriminalising-
To
rtion
abortion-already/78063)
Decriminalising
Abortion -
won
Aortion has een decriminalised in ever other state and territor
t-
(http://www.ac.net.au/triplej/programs/hack/aortion-in-australia/8286896) except for NW,
though access varies depending on the jurisdiction. For example, in the NT aortions can
decr
currentl onl e performed in a pulic hospital and medical aortion is still a crime. However,
imin
the NT government has introduced a law (http://www.news.com.au/national/reaking-news/nt-
govt-to-introduce-aortion-ill/news-stor/7a9e5a549ad66669961ec92d9e6c52cf) to allow
alis
the use the drug RU486 at home, and to introduce safe access zones around aortion clinics to
ed-
stop patients eing harassed.
que
Last ear Marie topes International, Australia’s largest aortion provider, announced it was
ensl
scaling ack (http://junkee.com/access-aortion-further-restricted-qld-two-major-clinics-axe-
and-
surgical-terminations/88862) the services offered in two of its clinics in regional Queensland.
The changes were estimated to impact aout 800 people a ear, who will now have to travel
opp
further to access aortion clinics.
ositi
on-
 on-
The LNP Opposition in Queensland announced this week that the would collectivel vote to

pro
lock Pne’s decriminalisation ill. ecause the Laor Part grants its MPs a conscience vote
on the issue, and some Laor MPs were expected to vote against decriminalisation, the LNP’s
mis
decision meant that it was unlikel the ill would succeed.
ed-
loc
k-
cha
nge
s/97
030
)

Cairns MP Ro Pne has introduced legislation to decriminalise aortion. Credit: Ro Pne
(https://www.faceook.com/RoJPne/photos/a.1164653373633369.1073741918.33353685007836
3/1164653986966641/?tpe=3&theater)

Instead, the ill has een referred to the Queensland Law Reform Commission which will
provide recommendations to the Laor government, assuming it’s re-elected. The next
Queensland election needs to e held efore 2018, and there is speculation it could e held
this ear.

Laor has promised (http://statements.qld.gov.au/tatement/2017/2/28/queensland-law-reform-
commission-to-examine-termination-of-pregnanc-laws) that if it is re-elected it will “modernise”
Queensland’s aortion laws ased on recommendations from the Law Reform Commission.

ut until then, the issue has een taken off the political agenda leaving Queensland with an
aortion law written in 1899.
–

Feature imagine via Ro Pne/Faceook
(https://www.faceook.com/RoJPne/photos/a.1164653373633369.1073741918.33353685007
8363/1164655526966487/?tpe=3)

TAGS ABORTION (HTTP://JUNKEE.COM/TAG/ABORTION) ABORTION LAW

REFORM (HTTP://JUNKEE.COM/TAG/ABORTION-LAW-REFORM) QUEENSLAND
(HTTP://JUNKEE.COM/TAG/QUEENSLAND) ROB PYNE
(HTTP://JUNKEE.COM/TAG/ROB-PYNE)

COMMENTS 

SUBSCRIBE
Enter your full name

Enter your email address

SIGN ME UP