Abortion law critics angry with process
WELLINGTON: Opponents of proposed abortion legislation say too many submitters are being turned away by a parliamentary committee hearing public submissions on the changes.
But the committee’s chairwoman says every voice that needs to be heard will be.
The Abortion Legislation Bill, which would allow women access to abortions until 20 weeks’ pregnancy without having to go through current legal loopholes, passed its first reading in Parliament by 94 votes to 23 in August.
A special Select Committee taking public input on the Bill announced last week it had received more than 25,000 written submissions.
By comparison, the End of Life Choice Bill — legalising voluntary euthanasia — received a record 35,000 submissions last year, while samesex marriage legislation in 2012 garnered 22,000.
The committee has now confirmed it will be hearing 150 submissions orally, out of 2890 who asked to speak.
That includes legal and medical experts, religious groups, national organisations and people sharing personal experiences. Those who could not be heard would have their written submissions still considered, the committee said.
Conservative lobby group Family First is campaigning firmly against the legislation and its national director, Bob McCoskrie, called the situation ‘‘disgraceful’’.
‘‘It’s highly controversial from both sides, so why shut that down? It’s a major change,’’ he said.
‘‘I think it’s patronising they can determine which submission they can hear, when you’re blocking doctors, lawyers, Pasifika leaders.’’
He thought the committee was rushing though a significant issue.
The same stage during the euthanasia debate took 16 months, hearing 1350 oral submissions.
The Abortion Legislation Committee’s chairwoman, Ruth Dyson, said it would be highly unusual for it to hear all submissions and said the quality of the input was the only consideration.
‘‘Hearing the same thing over and over again doesn’t add value to the committee at all,’’ Ms Dyson said.
‘‘Our committee was determined to ensure that all the major organisations and the different perspectives were heard.
‘‘We made sure that we heard from providers of abortion services, that we have had people who had good or bad experiences, people who are in provincial areas, we really took a lot of time to go through the different perspectives.’’
The committee is expected to report back with proposed changes in February before the Bill goes to a second reading.
Currently, women need clearance from two doctors on grounds of mental or physical risk from day one to get an abortion. After 20 weeks an abortion needs to save the life of the woman. About 98% of abortions are performed under the mental health clause.
The new law would mean there would be no legal test for earlier than 20 weeks.
Any later and the person performing the procedure will have to ‘‘reasonably believe the abortion is appropriate with regard to the pregnant woman’s physical and mental health, and wellbeing’’. — The New Zealand Herald