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NSW abortion laws get conscience vote

NSW government MPs will be given a conscience vote on a bill providing a 150 metre exclusion zone around abortion clinics.

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Source: AAP


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NSW government MPs will be allowed a conscience vote on a bill proposing "safe zones" around the state's abortion clinics.

The legislation, introduced to parliament last week, would create a 150-metre exclusion zone around abortion clinics and make it an offence to film staff and patients without their consent.

The bill was co-sponsored by Labor's Penny Sharpe and Nationals MP Trevor Khan.

AAP understands government MPs were told on Tuesday during a joint party meeting they would be given a conscience vote on the bill.

Ms Sharpe said she was "very pleased".

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"It gives me confidence the bill will pass both the upper house and lower house," she told AAP.

Under the laws, anti-abortion protesters caught intimidating staff or patients could be fined $5500 or jailed for six months for a first offence.

Repeat offenders could be fined $11,000 or jailed for 12 months.

It's understood the upper house will vote on the bill on Thursday, before going to the lower house in June.


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