Addresses and Statements

Statement on proposed Abortion Laws in NSW

30 Jul 2019

This week it was announced that a private members bill would be introduced immediately into parliament that will allow abortion for any reason up until birth in NSW.

The bill has yet to be released to the public and as such there has been no public inquiry into the subject, no opportunity for residents of NSW to make their views known to their MPs and not even discussion in state Cabinet.

It seems that Premier Gladys Berejiklian, Health Minister Brad Hazzard and the architects of this bill are determined for it to pass within days with as little community discussion as possible, let alone providing those being asked to vote on it with enough information to do so in an informed manner.

The bill is a bad one. It will allow abortion right up to birth if two doctors agree.
It will require Catholic (and other) doctors and hospitals to collaborate by either taking part in the abortion or referring patients to someone who will. It is yet another attack upon the rights of people of faith.

Worst of all, it does absolutely nothing to provide alternatives for women distressed about being pregnant who often feel they have ‘no other option’.

It is the dream bill of the abortion industry, which they have already pressed upon other several states; but it will leave unborn children and unsupported pregnant women even more at risk.

The Premier and others seem determined to stop us having our say. I have asked our priests and people to contact their local MPs to make their voice heard in the little time that they have been given to do so.

Along with the Anglican Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Glenn Davies, the new Primate of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, Archbishop Makarios and co-ordinator of Australia’s Eastern Catholic Bishops, Bishop Antoine-Charbel Tarabay, I have written to the Premier seeking her urgent intervention to allow more time so a proper consultation can happen. I look forward to her response.