By JOLENE OGLE
AUSTRALIAN Sex Party leader and member of Victorian Parliament Fiona Patten was in Noosa on Monday to join with local activist Robin Bristow in urging women to share their stories.
Ms Patten and Mr Bristow are urging women who have been impacted by abortion to share their stories to help support the Abortion Law Reform (Women’s Right to Choose) 2016 bill that will soon be before parliament.
Ms Patten said the new legislation would remove abortion from the Queensland criminal code and, by doing so, would allow women access to regulated health and counselling services.
“The current law is based on 19th Century legislation,” she said.
“To think we still have 19th Century legislation on women’s rights to reproduction is bizarre.”
Ms Patten said Noosa women who had been impacted by abortion could share their stories with Queensland group, Children by Choice, and their local MP to demonstrate their thoughts on the new bill.
Children by Choice manager Amanda Bradley told local media the group heard regular reports of desperate women who couldn’t safely access abortion services.
“We get reports of self-abortion, some women we speak to say if I can’t get an abortion, I will do it myself,” she said.
Ms Patten, who has spoken openly about having an abortion, said the reform bill aimed to help women who faced this kind of situation.
“This is an opportunity for new services and support for women,” she said.
“Currently, there is so much shame and criminalising abortion only exacerbates that. Women don’t have the support or counselling, which is making the situation worse.”
The decriminalisation of abortion in Queensland would bring the state in-line with all other states except for New South Wales, where the procedure is still illegal.
MPs will be allowed a conscious vote on the bill, but Ms Patten and Mr Bristow are urging Noosa locals to share their stories to show parliament what the Australian population want.
Anyone who would like to share their stories can phone Children by Choice on 3357 5570 or email admin@childrenbychoice.org.au.
