Abortion Has Finally Been Decriminalised In NSW

After a (far too long, far too painful) political struggle, abortion has finally been decriminalised in NSW.

The motion was first brought to the parliament by independent MP Alex Greenwich in July of this year. Designed to strike abortion from the Crimes Act, the motion has been a cause of significant controversy, not least amongst members of the Liberal party.

Indeed, the decriminalisation bill caused an outright schism between the left and right factions of the NSW party. Premier Gladys Berejiklian’s soft support of it threw her into open conflict with three rogue members of her party, who attempted to launch a leadership spill against her. In particular, the MPs were concerned that the motion makes terminations legal up to 22 weeks.

In the end, that spill turned out to be so much sound and fury. None of the MPs stepped forward as a contender against Berejiklian’s position, and the thing was over before it had even begun.

That said, the failed coup did have something of a calming effect on the situation. Since then, the motion has had a smoother time making its way through parliament — when it was voted through the upper house, some members applauded, as the ABC reports.

The decriminalisation bill is one of a number of pieces of legislation designed to support those who decide to terminate pregnancies. Last June, for instance, parliament enforced safe access zones around clinics, stopping protestors from haranguing potential visitors to the sites.

Looks like the law is finally catching up to the reality of the modern world.