2015-07-23
Shane Rattenbury (ACT MP)
It is alarming that in 2015 this is not the case in many states across Australia, and that abortions are still criminalised in NSW and Queensland. Here in the ACT abortions are legal. However, consistent protests outside the ACT Health Building mean that women accessing abortion services are regularly subjected to judgment, intimidation and a lack of privacy.
A few months ago I announced that the ACT Greens would introduce legislation to create privacy zones around fertility control and reproductive health clinics, after the Archbishop joined the anti-abortion vigils that regularly take place at the ACT Health Building. The Archbishop and any others who disagree about a woman's right to choose should be free to speak about their beliefs, but not outside the entrance of a health facility where women are seeking the medical services that they are legally entitled to.
Women have a right to medical privacy, and a human right to make decisions about their own health without interference or harassment. That is what the ACT Greens' privacy zones legislation seeks to achieve.
It's a balancing act.
I strongly believe in the right to protest. I have spent many years protesting against the exploitation and degradation of our environment, and I encourage and welcome a diversity of views and opinions on issues of public interest. However, these rights are not absolute. Just as we believe in the right to free speech but not 'hate speech', we must defend the right to protest but not in a way that infringes on a woman's right to make decisions about her own body and access services for her own health.
I believe our legislation gets this balance right.
The privacy zones established outside abortion clinics will only apply to a small geographic area around approved facilities, and people will remain free to protest anywhere else they like. The limitations also only apply to specific subject matter relating to abortion and related health services so there is no risk that people protesting other matters will be inadvertently affected by this legislation.
This legislation is about protecting a woman's right to access healthcare privately, safely and without judgement.
I would appreciate your feedback. You can read our draft legislation and let me know what you think: