Yesterday my housemate left for Cairns with 11 others from Brisbane to hold vigil for the couple who could be sentenced to a total of 10 years between them in jail for accessing abortion where the legislation in Queensland and doctors in their area had failed to help them.
In Australia abortion is only decriminalised in 2 states (Tasmania, date unknown? and Victoria, 2008) and 1 territory (Australian Capital Territory, 2002), and abortion up to 20 weeks is lawful in Western Australia (1998).
Queensland has barely changed a vowel in its legislation on Abortion (which is in the criminal code, you guys) since 1891!!! Similar aged laws exist in New South Wales! We live in 2010!! I mean, I know we’re a ‘young’ country and people would ask to be forgiven for the latency of these kinds of reform but seriously???Premier Anna Bligh -a feminist by her own description, and a member of pro-choice feminist group Emily’s List- is resisting urges for reforming the legislation and moving to decriminalise abortion in our state because she feels the time isn’t right in the senate, there is no mood for it that would cause a positive change in the laws. She is fearful that opening up the laws for questioning and reform could encourage the conservative members to move for harsher laws.
My godmother, a very vocal and radical (and controversial) obstetrician-gynaecologist, who practices abortion and has been trialled under Qld laws for this, though seeking the decriminalisation of abortion in every state in Australia, echoes Premier Bligh’s sentiments.
As the law stands, many doctors in queensland are still able to manipulate (get away with) the ‘crime’ of administering an abortion, there are defences. But not all doctors are able to or are comfortable with doing this, and that is where cases such as the Cairns trial can happen. My godmother (and I refer to her as this to respect her privacy - because she doesnt get much these days - and to put in a hint at the fact that a ‘godmother’ is who would have been my guardian should anything had happen to my parents when i was a child and that in some religious communities a ‘godmother’ is responsible for the spiritual wellbeing of a child) argues that the potential for further regression in Queenslands laws on abortion is an incredible risk to take.Nonetheless, I repeat: this year is 2010. These are our bodies, we should have the choices what is done with them. 90% of Australians believe in the decriminalisation of Abortion. Many of those aren’t aware that abortion is still in the criminal code of a lot of this country. People who find themselves pregnant in regional/isolated areas are at risk of having somebody else make choices for them, and often forcing them to take measures into their own hands.
We need to be living in 2010 and towards the future. Shit needs to move forward.
reblogging again because this is really important.
Today, the Cairns couple faced with being charged under Queensland's archaic abortion laws are going to trial. Support them and Australian women's fundamental right to control their own bodies by taking part in Get Up's online petition to coerce Premier Anna bligh to finally address this grave issue: