[Greens-Media] FW: MEDIA RELEASE: 'Premier Baird’s Call for Zoe’s Law Will Further Threaten Women’s Right to Choose' (Greens MP Dr Mehreen Faruqi MLC)

[Matthew Hilton]

Media Release
23.10.14
Premier Baird’s Call for Zoe’s Law Will Further Threaten Women’s Right to Choose

Greens NSW MP and Spokesperson for the Status of Women, Dr Mehreen Faruqi MLC, has responded to Premier Mike Baird’s comments that the foetal personhood law, also known as Zoe’s Law, should be debated in the Upper House. The foetal personhood law has been sitting dormant in the Legislative Council for almost a year.

Dr Faruqi said:

“It is disappointing that Premier Baird, who voted for Chris Spence’s bill against the advice of legal and medical groups such as the NSW Bar Association and the Australian Medical Association NSW, is now pushing to resurrect a bill that could further criminalise women’s reproductive choice.

“It is really important that we recognise the deep tragedy of a woman’s loss during pregnancy in an accident; however this new Bill must be seen for what it is – an attempt to infringe on the rights of women.

“The bill seeks to grant personhood rights to a foetus separate from the pregnant woman. Medical and legal experts are deeply concerned about the consequences which may result in prosecution of women and their doctors.

“This attempt to grant the foetus personhood status echoes the sweeping conservative right wing politics in the US, and has no place in Australia.

“The reality is that abortion is still shamefully in the Crimes Act and considered unlawful in New South Wales unless proven otherwise, and this Bill is only going to restrict reproductive rights further.

The Greens, with many women’s and community groups, will continue to campaign strongly to defeat this bill and to expose it for what it is, an unnecessary and dangerous law that will restrict women’s rights and access to safe and affordable reproductive health” she concluded.

Media Contact: Matt Hilton 0423 106 247