Speak up to help win safe, legal and compassionate access to abortion care in NSW

Right now there’s a historic opportunity to secure safe, legal and compassionate access to abortion care in NSW.

Legislation to decriminalise abortion has been passed by the NSW lower house, and the upper house are due to cast their final vote this week.

But those who oppose legal access to abortion care are throwing everything they can at watering down this reform - including proposing more than 20 amendments that could water down reform and actually make it harder for a woman in need to access timely care.

Just a handful of members could decide whether these amendments pass - and ...

Right now there’s a historic opportunity to secure safe, legal and compassionate access to abortion care in NSW.

Legislation to decriminalise abortion has been passed by the NSW lower house, and the upper house are due to cast their final vote this week.

But those who oppose legal access to abortion care are throwing everything they can at watering down this reform - including proposing more than 20 amendments that could water down reform and actually make it harder for a woman in need to access timely care.

Just a handful of members could decide whether these amendments pass - and many have indicated they will consider voting for amendments - so we can't leave them with any doubt about what the community wants. Can you take 2 minutes to send them a message urging them to vote no to all hostile amendments?

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Email your MP to oppose harmful amendments

Many MPs who had previously indicated they would support the bill are now indicating they will consider voting for these harmful reforms. We need to make community opposition heard!

Expert medical and legal groups have spoken out today; now we need to meet that with a wave of community messages overnight. Can you send a message now, then encourage your friends to do the same?

Find your local rep

Subject:

I am a constituent of your electorate and I am reaching out about the Reproductive Health Care Reform Bill, to urge you to oppose amendments that are being put forward.

I know that the bill, as introduced, has the backing of more than 70 health, legal, women's and community groups - and that it was developed in consultation with the AMA, obstetricians and gynaecologists, and other peak medical bodies. I'm also aware that it closely matches the model of reform already being applied in Queensland.

I am extremely worried that the amendments being discussed - including those proposing restrictions on which qualified professionals can provide care; and in which facilities that can provide care - might have really significant impacts on the experiences of very vulnerable women.

The number of women who need to access abortion care later in pregnancy - and particularly at the 22 week in pregnancy point, is extremely low. But that small number of women face deeply complex and distressing circumstances (often because of a devastating fetal diagnosis, or health issue for the pregnant woman); and they deserve a system that provides the best support and most compassionate care options available.

They should not have to travel far from home, family, and support systems, to access a particular specialist or facility designated by parliament - if there are healthcare professionals and facilities that would meet the stringent professional guidelines and framework requirements that must be met to provide care at that level, closer to home.

Patients should also have a right to unbiased advice and referral. So I'm really concerned about any amendments that would undermine a patient's ability to access unbiased advice in a timely manner.

I'm also appalled by the notion that a woman facing the deeply complex, distressing and personal decision to access abortion care at 22 weeks might be forced to endure the humiliating process of having her decision approved by a panel of people she may never have met.

Finally, I'm concerned about any legislative requirements around counseling, particularly the inclusion of a partner in such counseling. Given the impact such a provision may have on women navigating an abusive relationship, I urge you to vote against them.

Overall, I'm extremely worried that the proposed amendments will create barriers to women being able to access the care they need in a timely manner; and that it will prevent doctors and other health practitioners from providing the best care possible.

I'm aware that the AMA NSW, RANZCOG, Human Rights Law Centre and Pro Choice Alliance NSW have all spoken out to oppose all of the hostile amendments.

I want to add my voice to that chorus - and urge you not to vote for any of the hostile amendments when they are brought to a vote. 
 
Thank you for your time,

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