MP's proposal to legalise abortion for women - up to 9 months pregnant

A bill proposing the decriminalisation of abortion for women who are up to nine months pregnant will be tabled in Queensland’s State Parliament on Tuesday.

Independent MP Rob Pyne, representing Cairns, recently drafted a private member’s bill to legalise abortion, which has been essentially prohibited across the state for more than 100 years, according to ABC.

The Liberal National Party will consider the bill this week and Labor members will participate in a conscience vote, LNP leader Tim Nicholls told ABC.

Abortion pro-choice supporters and pro-life protesters were seen rallying outside the Queensland Parliament on Tuesday as politicians discussed the proposed bill.

The LNP has not stated a position on the bill but Deputy Premier Jackie Trad recently told the Brisbane Times that she is ‘absolutely pro-choice’ and that the state’s government needs ‘to catch up with legal precedent and treat pregnancy termination as a health issue, not a criminal issue.’

Abortion has been prohibited in Queensland by the state’s criminal code since 1899 but a ruling in 1986 determined that procedures were possible if a medical professional determined there is a risk to the mother’s physical or mental health, according to ABC.

The law was amended in 2009 allowing surgical or chemical abortions.

17 Comments

- - momSeve12 said
  - 30 Jun 2016
    9:04 pm
I don’t think extending the timeframes of abortions and make it Legal is nessacary. As females are still affected currently in differents ways with how it is right now. I would like to see more options for education/funding to educate safer intercourse.

- - hopefullyheidi said
  - 30 Jun 2016
    11:59 am
Such a contentious issue. I try never to involve myself in any discussions around this topic, as there are so many variables to be considered and it is not a black and white issue.

- - pakeko said
  - 05 Jun 2016
    8:58 pm
Each to their own but 9 months seams too late for me

- - Jessica said
  - 29 May 2016
    10:31 pm
I’m pro choice but NOT at 9months once you feel a full size baby I can’t imagine anyone wanting to do this what would happen to these foetus?

- - BellaB said
  - 16 May 2016
    4:36 pm
Abortion should be legal, but I have real problems with late term abortions. There should be an earlier cut off.

- - mum4107 said
  - 12 May 2016
    5:23 am
Women should have the choice but I don’t agree with 9 months

- - rachelvk said
  - 11 May 2016
    8:52 pm
It is important that women have a choice. As per the article the bill possibly does need some refinement.
- mom93821 replied
  
  12 May 2016 , 7:06 am
  Women should always have choice and agree with you about refinement.
- - Nas01 said
  - 11 May 2016
    8:39 pm
I’m all for women making their own choices but abortion at 9 months sounds very disturbing and I definetky think there needs to be a time limit.

- - mom93821 said
  - 11 May 2016
    7:39 pm
A complex issue which should be consistent across all states and territories.

- - mom90758 said
  - 11 May 2016
    6:19 pm
Abortion is surely not a crime, but I would find an abortion at 9 months quite disturbing.

- - mom160421 said
  - 11 May 2016
    5:39 pm
I’m all for legalized abortion, but not to 9 months. There should be a time limit such as 24 weeks or less. Beyond that I feel that (with medical intervention) the fetus would be able to survive outside the womb and it is therefore too late to abort.

- - mom165081 said
  - 11 May 2016
    3:56 pm
I find the Bill a little disturbing. Yes, open the options, but not to 9 months!

- - june11 said
  - 11 May 2016
    2:28 pm
9 months is full term and probably too large to abort by the normal method.
The baby can then be adopted out. There is a huge waiting list for adoption for others whose other methods are unsuccessful. If pregnancy is a result of rape a woman should not be forced to give birth if she doesn’t want to. They have already suffered so much emotional as well as physical damage. Also Some genetic conditions can put the Mum’s life at risk.

- - mom81879 said
  - 11 May 2016
    1:13 pm
It’s good that he’s pushing for this. I don’t agree with late term abortions tho. Surely there is a time during pregnancy when the baby becomes a human being?

- - mom81879 said
  - 11 May 2016
    1:13 pm
It’s good test he’s pushing for this. I don’t agree with late term abortions tho. Surely there is a time during pregnancy when the baby becomes a human being?

- - sharna_booth_weinrowski said
  - 11 May 2016
    1:09 pm
It is a woman’s choice.