The Government yesterday announced a draft abortion law reform Bill will be introduced in Parliament this week, to be decided by MPs on a conscience vote.
Among widespread changes, the main one will be for abortion to be taken out of the Crimes Act and treated as a health issue.
Women will have access to abortions until 20 weeks' pregnancy without having to go through legal hoops.
Other changes include. -
- Allowing women to self-refer to an abortion service, bypassing their GPs if they object.
- Ensuring health practitioners advise women about counselling services.
- Allow a regulation-making power to set up safe areas around specific abortion facilities.
- Ensure practitioners who object must inform pregnant women about their objection, and that the woman can obtain the services elsewhere.
Under the proposed law it will still be illegal for an unqualified person to try to perform an abortion, and causing the death of an unborn child by harming a pregnant woman will remain an offence.
Abortion laws are 40 years old and have been criticised on all sides of the debate for being inadequate.
Dunedin South Labour MP Clare Curran welcomed the Bill.
"Finally, after decades of inaction, we have a government that recognises women have rights over their own bodies and takes abortion out of the Crimes Act to make it a health issue between a woman and her GP.
"Safe, legal and rare is the aim.''
Invercargill National MP Sarah Dowie shared Ms Curran's view that abortion should be regulated as a health issue.
"I believe abortion should not be readily used as birth control and should be a last resort but nevertheless is a woman's decision.
"I need to further consider the 20-week limit as to the thresholds and tests; I support the counselling and protection measures.''
Waitaki MP Jacqui Dean, who chaired a Justice and Electoral select committee inquiry into abortion services during National's last term in government, said she would be making an informed vote against the Bill.
"My conclusion was that the system we have now works well, but what is critical, and we made recommendations that this be improved, is that matters around the young woman making the decision about whether or not to have an abortion procedure are done well, not so much the consenting physician but the counselling for young women.''
Counselling after an abortion also needed to be improved, and provided those things were done she was happy with the status quo, Mrs Dean said.
Dunedin North MP David Clark said he would vote in favour of the Bill because he believed in a woman's right to choose.
"Abortion shouldn't be a crime, it should be treated as a health issue; I think reform of our law in this area is long overdue.''
Clutha-Southland MP Hamish Walker said he supported changing abortion from a criminal issue to a health issue, but wanted to see the printed version before committing to support it.
New Zealand First Central Otago list MP Mark Patterson had no comment until he had studied the Bill more closely.
Invercargill Labour list MP Liz Craig and Dunedin National list MP Michael Woodhouse were unable to respond by deadline.
- additional reporting by Daisy Hudson and John Gibb
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What I sent to Members of Parliament,
Dear Member of Parliament, Parliament, Wellington,
As an MP I am sure you are considering your position on the Bill to be introduced this Thurs. on Abortion Law Reform.
I want to tell you that I am deeply concerned at the proposed changes to the legislation.
What I appeal to you to do is VOTE against the introduction of the Minister of Justice's Bill entitled: .
It is unsafe to remove from the Crimes Act a procedure that takes the life of a human being.
If the Bill goes to Committee stage I ask that you VOTE to ensure the most restrictive measures are brought into the Bill so that the lives of the babies in the womb are more greatly protected and not put at more risk. The Bill proposes the latter.
While of course women have a right to determine what happens to their health, the same as each of us, we are all responsible to ensure the safety and health of the weakest members of society. These are our children in the womb and outside the womb and of course our elderly, infirm and disabled.
Looking forward to hearing what happens as you deliberate in behalf of those who need your help right now.
Ray McKendry, Dunedin