UPDATE: The bill has been stalled.


ORIGINAL:The NSW Government has backed a private members bill to decriminalise abortions.

Currently, abortions in NSW are illegal, and made possible only through exemptions in the Crimes Act.

The Reproductive Healthcare Reform Bill 2019 set to be introduced into parliament this week by independent Sydney MP Alex Greenwich is expected to lead to a conscience vote on decriminalising regulating abortions as a medical procedure.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian says it appears acceptable.

“If the legislation contains what I think it does I'll be supporting it,” she said on Monday.

“NSW is the last state to decriminalise abortion and all members of the Liberals and Nationals will be given a conscience vote on this issue.

“I'd encourage all members of the parliament to look at the legislation, as I will be doing, to make sure they're comfortable with it and decide either way how they feel about it.

“It's important for that [abortion] to be a decision for the woman and for the state not to cast judgement on the morality of that decision.”

The bill is similar to laws in Queensland and Victoria, and has been backed by the NSW branch of the Australian Medical Association NSW and Pro-Choice Alliance.

The proposed legislation means women would no longer be committing an offence by procuring a termination, if it is within the bill's framework.

It would also scrap parts of the Crimes Act relating to abortions, and some common law offences too.

The bill allows for terminations up to 22 weeks, and later if two doctors agree on the medical, physical, social and psychological circumstances.

It would also create a new criminal offence under the Crimes Act for people who assist in terminations without authorisation.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard says abortion is between a woman, her partner and her doctor, and should not involve “possible criminal proceedings against them.

“It's a medical issue,” he said.

“We feel confident there will be a respectful debate,” he told reporters, adding that he is “hopeful” the bill will pass.

“To my mind, in the 21st century, it's inappropriate for a woman who lives in Tweed not to have exactly the same right as a woman in Coolangatta or the Gold Coast.”