The proposed Sex Selection Prohibition Bill 2025 by John Ruddick is a veiled attempt to incrementally erode the hard-fought abortion laws in New South Wales, and eventually, across Australia. Cloaked in the guise of preventing sex-selective abortions, which is an issue that scarcely exists in Australia if at all, this bill stands to undermine reproductive rights and autonomy in the guise of ethical considerations.

What's truly alarming is the underlying motive to insert a clause that mandates revisiting this legislation every three years. Such provisions open the door for introducing further restrictions on abortion accessibility, thereby threatening the lives and rights of many individuals seeking reproductive healthcare.

The bill's supposed ethical basis leans heavily on an outmoded study from Edith Cowan University, relying on 30-year-old data presented as "indirect evidence". Yet, proponents of this amendment audaciously claim this outdated data provides unequivocal proof for the necessity of such a law.

This is more than just a legal issue; it is a personal strike against the autonomy of women and those who can conceive, and an underhanded attempt to roll back the progress we have made over decades of thoughtful and inclusive deliberation to protect reproductive rights. This bill is an affront to the principles of informed choice and accessibility, and it threatens to dismantle the freedoms that allow individuals to make the most intimate and personal decisions regarding their own bodies.

To the New South Wales Legislative Council, it is imperative that you see this amendment for what it is - a strategic maneuver to invoke repetitive cycles of legislative review aimed at suffocating abortion rights incrementally. Your decision on this bill is not just a vote on paper; it is a message to our community about where you stand on individual rights, dignity, and personal freedom. To the supporters of reproductive justice, to those who believe in the right to make choices about our bodies, and to everyone who champions equitable healthcare access, we urge you to stand with us.

Let us take a decisive step to uphold and protect our rights. Sign this petition to call on the NSW Legislative Council to reject John Ruddick's regressive amendment and any attempts to revisit our hard-earned rights under misleading pretenses. Together, we can ensure that these rights remain adequately protected for future generations.