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MP's Unite Behind Reproductive Health Care Reform Bill

Reproductive Health Care Reform Bill 2019 - Minister Hazzard Speech

In support of abortion law reform and a more compassionate healthcare system 

To all members of New South Wales Parliament,

As organisations and services working for the health, safety, rights, and well-being of members of the NSW community, we strongly support the passage of the Reproductive Health Care Reform Bill 2019.

At its core, this Bill is about supporting women and pregnant people’s autonomy, dignity and wellbeing.

A woman knows what makes sense for her health, her body and her future. She should be enabled to control her healthcare decisions. Health professionals must be able to provide their patients with the best care possible, without fear of criminal charges.

NSW’s current abortion laws – written back in 1900 – are archaic, cruel and degrading. Their threat of criminal charges has a chilling effect on health professionals’ willingness to provide abortion care on a daily basis, and leads to huge gaps in service access across the state. They create unacceptable barriers to healthcare access; and in doing so increase the distress, delay and financial burden faced by someone who needs to end a pregnancy.

This broken system disproportionately harms women living in rural and remote areas, who already have limited access to healthcare, as well as women affected by physical and sexual violence, and other vulnerable members of our community.

We write to record our strong and united support for the Reproductive Health Care Reform Bill 2019 as a strong framework for safe, legal and compassionate access to abortion care.

As the Members of Parliament who will determine whether or not this Bill becomes law, we urge you to be on the right side of history, and vote yes for a more compassionate healthcare system in New South Wales.

Signed,

  1. Amnesty International Australia
  2. Australian Association of Social Workers
  3. Australian College of Nursing
  4. Australian Lawyers’ Alliance
  5. Australian Lawyers for Human Rights
  6. Australasian Sexual Health and HIV Nurses Association
  7. Australian Women’s Health Network
  8. Central Coast Community Legal Centre
  9. Central Coast Community Women’s Health Centre
  10. Centre for Leadership for Women Australia
  11. Children by Choice
  12. Clinic 66
  13. Coffs Harbour Women’s Health Centre
  14. Community Legal Centres NSW
  15. Domestic Violence NSW
  16. Elizabeth Evatt Community Legal Centre
  17. Fair Agenda
  18. Family Planning Alliance Australia
  19. Family Planning NSW
  20. Family Planning Tasmania
  21. Family Planning Victoria
  22. Far West Community Legal Centre
  23. fEMPOWER Workshops
  24. The Full Stop Foundation
  25. Human Rights Law Centre
  26. Illawarra Legal Centre
  27. Illawarra Women’s Health Centre
  28. Immigration Advice & Rights Centre
  29. Inner City Legal Centre
  30. International Planned Parenthood Federation
  31. Kingsford Legal Centre
  32. Leichhardt Women’s Community Health Centre
  33. Marie Stopes Australia
  34. Maurice Blackburn Lawyers
  35. Mid North Coast Community Legal Centre
  36. National Foundation for Australian Women
  37. National Older Women's Network, Australia Inc
  38. NCOSS
  39. Northern Rivers Women and Children’s Services Inc. Lismore Women’s Health and Resource Centre
  40. NSW Council for Civil Liberties
  41. NSW Pro-Choice Alliance
  42. Our Bodies Our Choices
  43. Penrith Women’s Health Centre
  44. Pro Choice NSW
  45. Pro Choice Tasmania
  46. Public Health Association of Australia NSW Branch
  47. Public Interest Advocacy Centre
  48. Rape & Domestic Violence Services Australia
  49. Rationalist Association of NSW Inc.
  50. Rationalist Society of Australia
  51. Reproductive Choice Australia
  52. Sexual Health Quarters (Family Planning Western Australia)
  53. Shoalcoast Community Legal Centre
  54. Shoalhaven Women’s Health Centre
  55. Sydney Women’s Counselling Centre
  56. The Animal Defender’s Office
  57. The Rationalist Association of NSW Inc.
  58. True Relationships and Reproductive Health (Family Planning QLD)
  59. Waminda – South Coast Women’s Health and Welfare Aboriginal Corporation
  60. Western NSW Community Legal Centre Inc
  61. White Ribbon Australia
  62. The Women Barristers Forum
  63. Women’s Electoral Lobby
  64. Women’s Health NSW
  65. Women in Adult and Vocational Education (WAVE)
  66. Women Lawyers’ Association NSW
  67. Women’s Legal Services NSW
  68. Women’s March Sydney
  69. Women’s Safety NSW (formerly WDVCAS)
  70. Youth Action NSW