“We believe the focus of politicians should be to improve emotional, financial and systematic supports so women are wholly supported,” Archbishop  Patrick Michael O’Regan

“ALLOWING ABORTIONS UP UNTIL THE TIME OF BIRTH SEEMS TO BE OF VERY LITTLE DIFFERENCE TO INFANTICIDE,” BISHOP GREG O’KELLY SJ

Removal  of current safeguards would result in more abortions on demand and put vulnerable women at greater risk of economic and social coercion.
The proposed legislation removes current safeguards, permitting an abortion by a doctor up to 22 weeks and six days gestation, but beyond that without a gestational limit with the approval of two doctors who consider it “medically appropriate”.

The bill follows a South Australian Law Reform Institute report that in December recommended abortion be regulated under health law. The state’s Human Services Minister Michelle Lensink introduced the bill to the state’s Upper House on 14 October saying it was time to reform the legislation around abortion which is governed under the criminal code. 

Currently under SA law, once a child is capable of being born alive abortion is only permitted if needed preserve the mother’s life, while any woman seeking to terminate a pregnancy requires approval from two doctors. 

The woman must also have been a resident in the state for at least two months, a requirement which would also be removed under the proposed laws.

“The feedback from counselling services is that many women are struggling with the decision to keep their baby because of external pressures, anxiety about how they will cope and fear of being a parent. 

“The impact post-abortion can be ongoing disappointment, anger, abandonment and subsequent mental health issues.” 

Babies can be delivered at around 23 or 24 weeks gestation with “excellent health outcomes”.  At the same time if we expect doctors to end the life of an unborn baby from this gestation age, what message does that send to the community about the value of life?

When we say that a late term pregnancy with medical complications can be ended, what message does that give to people with disabilities and their contribution to society? Allowing abortions up until the time of birth seems to be of very little difference to infanticide.” 

Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP, a leading bioethicist, agreed that if passed the proposed laws would remove the limited safeguards that exist for vulnerable women and their unborn babies.   
We request all our Honourable MPs to vote NO to this bill when it comes for your voting.