This letter is from our member Doug Williamson to local members Adam Crouch (Terrigal), Liesl Tesch (Gosford) and David Harris (Wyong) and to Coast Opinions at newslocal.com.au:
Dear Mark,
NSW & Queensland remain the only 2 states in Australia where it is still illegal to have an abortion under Division 12 Crimes Act (s. 82, 83 & 84), this means that an abortion can only be conducted under a mental health loophole. In an allegedly advanced civilisation of the 21st century, this is an appalling situation & leaves this procedure under continued threat from religious fundamentalists within NSW parliament.
Legislation due to be voted on within the next fortnight will repeal the relevant sections of the Crimes Act; provide 150m safe access zone around abortion clinics and require doctors to disclose any conscientious objections at start of consultations & refer patients to another doctor who does not have such an objection or the local Women’s Health NSW Centre. It is about time that women in our community are able to take control over their own bodies & not be accountable to a bunch of old white men within our government. Lobby your NSW parliamentary representative & tell them to support this legislation to give control over women’s bodies back to women & women alone.
Yours faithfully,
Doug Williamson44 Old Gosford Rd
WAMBERAL 2260
Mob: 0411 254 512