QLD abortion case starts today: NSW must repeal outdated laws

A 19 year old woman and her 21 year old partner will attend Cairns Magistrate Court today, facing seven and three years jail respectively. In response, Cairns doctors Caroline de Costa and Michael Carrette have announced they will cease offering abortions because they fear prosecution and want the law changed.
 
"This Queensland case underlines how women, their supporters and their doctors still risk prosecution in NSW. The NSW Law Reform Commission should be given the job of reviewing NSW's outdated laws, with the aim of decriminalising abortion, as occurred last year in Victoria," Ms Rhiannon said.
 
"I have had talks with the Queensland Children by Choice group about developing an interstate campaign to remove abortion from the criminal law in both states.
 
"In NSW we are developing cross party support to remove abortion from the NSW Crimes Act.
 
"Premier Nathan Rees would be wise to closely study recent polling in Queensland
which shows that 79 percent of Queenslanders and 83 percent of Labor voters support decriminalisation of abortion.
 
"With Queensland's reputation for conservatism, Premier Rees can take courage from this polling which shows that the public sees these laws as archaic and in need of reform.

"This important issue deserves a response that rises above politics, with MPs from every party working towards repeal of NSW's outdated abortion laws.
 
"The NSW Premier has been silent on this issue, while his Queensland counterpart Premier Anna Bligh, has closed the door on reform.
 
"A modern Premier would realise that it is time to remove criminal laws that haunt women who have made the difficult decision to have an abortion," Ms Rhiannon said.
 
Lee Rhiannon launched the Greens action to decriminalise abortion on International Women's Day and has since held a public forum in May at NSW Parliament House.
 
For more information:9230 3551, 0427 861 568
Read more about the campaign at www.lee.greens.org.au