[Greens-Media] Abortion legislation lacks certainty (Vic, C Hartland)

[Elizabeth.Ingham at parliament.vic.gov.au]

ABORTION LEGISLATION LACKS CERTAINTY

Greens MLC Colleen Hartland has criticised the government for its mixed 
stance on abortion law reform.

"I personally support a woman's right to choose.  So do the vast majority 
of people who have contacted my office," said Ms Hartland.

"The Government’s legislation assumes that women who are 24 weeks pregnant 
can't make a decision for themselves."
 
"Only a tiny proportion of abortions are carried out after 24 weeks, and 
they are all for absolutely heart breaking and personally devastating 
reasons.  Nearly all are planned pregnancies that have developed ghastly 
complications."

"These women and their families are already going through enough.  There's 
no need to add an extra burden."

"It shouldn’t be up to doctors to make the choice about whether a woman 
can have an abortion.  It shouldn't be up to politicians, either.  Who are 
we to judge?  Each woman is capable of making a decision to have an 
abortion, or not to have one, and should be supported regardless of that 
choice."

"I will need to examine the legislation carefully and discuss it with my 
Greens colleagues before deciding how to respond in parliament."

"Abortion is a medical procedure, with moral implications.  Let doctors 
handle the medical procedure, and let women make the moral decision", said 
Colleen Hartland.



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