A momentous win for reproductive rights in South Australia
South Australian MPs have voted overwhelmingly in favour of creating safe access zones around abortion clinics, with the Health Care (Safe Access) Amendment Bill passing the lower house of the SA Parliament today.
The proposed laws would create protective zones around abortion services, prohibiting harassment, intimidation and other distressing conduct targeting patients and staff. The zones are now one step closer to becoming law in South Australia, with the Bill to be voted on by the upper house later this year.
Monique Hurley, Senior Lawyer at the Human Rights Law Centre, congratulated the South Australian MPs who voted in favour of the Bill today for seizing the opportunity to bring South Australia in line with the rest of the country.
“For far too long, women have had to run a gauntlet of abuse just to see their doctor. It is great to see the South Australian MPs support safe access zones and stand up for women’s rights. Safe access zone laws are critical to protecting women’s safety and privacy from the harm caused by anti-abortion activists.”
Now the next step for the Marshall Government in South Australia is to fully realise women’s reproductive health rights by decriminalising abortion. Abortion in South Australia is still regulated by criminal laws written over 50 years ago.
“The Attorney-General has the opportunity to build on today’s outcome and bring South Australia’s laws out of the past by decriminalising abortion,” said Hurley.]
Media contact:
Michelle Bennett, Communications Director, Human Rights Law Centre,
0419 100 519