Historic abortion bill with 15 co-sponsors to be introduced in NSW
Fifteen MPs from across the political divide are co-sponsoring a bill to decriminalise abortion in NSW, in a historic move that has never been done in the state's lower house.
The bill will be the first co-sponsored legislation to be introduced into the Legislative Assembly and it has more co-sponsors than any other piece of legislation in the history of the NSW Parliament.
The proposed legislation would excise abortion from the state’s 119-year-old criminal code and create a standalone healthcare act to regulate the procedure.
The bill allows abortion on request for women up to 22 weeks' gestation performed by a registered doctor. Women beyond 22 weeks would need the consent of two doctors.
NSW is the only state in Australia that has not decriminalised abortion.
The bill was drafted by a working group of MPs including the Nationals' Trevor Khan, Labor's Penny Sharpe and independent Alex Greenwich, who will introduce the bill.
It has the backing of Health Minister Brad Hazzard, who is one of the bill's co-sponsors.
Last year, Mr Khan and Ms Sharpe co-sponsored a bill introduced into the upper house that established 150-metre "safe access zones" around abortion clinics.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said on Monday, "If the legislation contains what I think it does, I'll be supporting it."
Coalition MPs will be given a conscience vote.
"NSW is the last state to decriminalise abortion and all members of the Liberals and Nationals will be given a conscience vote on this issue," Ms Berejiklian said.
"I'd encourage all members of the Parliament to look at the legislation, as I will be doing, to make sure they're comfortable with it and decide either way how they feel about it."
A statement from the working party said: "Members who represent various political parties and communities across NSW have come together to ensure women in NSW can get access to safe and legal abortions, and that doctors have the legal certainty they have long asked for.
"To mark the significance of the Reproductive Health Care Reform Bill 2019, this bill will be the first co-sponsored legislation ever introduced into the NSW Legislative Assembly, and has more co-sponsors than any other piece of legislation in the history of the NSW Parliament."
The co-sponsors are:
1. Shelley Hancock (Liberal), Minister for Local Government.
2. Trish Doyle (Labor), opposition spokeswoman on women.
3. Brad Hazzard MP (Liberal), Health Minister.
4. Ryan Park (Labor), opposition spokesman on health.
5. Jenny Leong MP (Greens), Greens spokeswoman on women's rights.
6. Leslie Williams (Nationals), Deputy Speaker.
7. Penny Sharpe (Labor), opposition spokeswoman on family and community services.
8. Alex Greenwich (independent).
9. Trevor Khan (Nationals), Deputy President of Legislative Council.
10. Abigail Boyd (Greens), Greens spokeswoman for women’s equity.
11. Jo Haylen (Labor), opposition spokeswoman on active transport.
12. Jenny Aitchison (Labor ), opposition spokeswoman on primary industries.
13. Felicity Wilson (Liberal).
14. Greg Piper (independent).
15. Emma Hurst (Animal Justice Party).