A bill aimed at decriminalising abortion in New South Wales is being debated in the state's parliament.
The bill aims to overturn 119-year-old laws making abortion a criminal offence, replacing them with a standalone health care act to regulate the procedure.
Independent MP Alex Greenwich introduced the bill last week with bipartisan support.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard has thrown his support behind the draft legislation, and was among the first to speak during the debate today.
[NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard: “Today, the people’s representatives here in the NSW parliament, have the opportunity to right the wrong enacted into law 119 years ago -- a law that was enacted when this place had legislators that were all men.”]
Liberal M-P Kevin Connoly was among the first people to speak against the bill.
[Liberal MP Kevin Connoly: "I'm certain the community very uneasy about late term abortions. I do not believe there is public support broadly for that. I believe the community are only just now having the opportunity to convey that message to their elected representatives."]
Earlier, both sides of the abortion debate faced off in rival rallies, blocking Sydney's Macquarie Street outside the NSW Parliament.
