Vic law change for abortion centres

The Victorian Sex Party wants to ban anti-abortion protesters from standing within 150 metres of fertility clinics.

Anti-abortion protesters

The Victorian Sex Party wants anti-abortion protesters to stay 150 metres from fertility clinics. (AAP)

Anti-abortion protesters are harassing Victorian women trying to get pregnant at fertility clinics, a Sex Party MP says.

But protesters won't be allowed within 150 metres of fertility clinics if the party can get Victorian laws changed.

Sex Party MP Fiona Patten introduced a bill creating exclusion zones to stop harassment of women using a legal service.

"These clinics provide a vast array of services. Many times people are going there for IVF, for pregnancy tests, for a whole range of services, other that just terminations," Ms Patten told reporters on Wednesday.

She said penalties of up to $8000 - and imprisonment in extreme cases - could be applied if the law change is supported.

"(People) certainly have a right to protest, they don't have a right to harass. This is about harassment," she said.

Ms Patten said she was waiting to hear from the major parties about whether they would support the amendment to the Health and Wellbeing Act.

Protesters holding pictures of blood-covered foetuses are a regular fixture outside the gates of Parliament on sitting days and Ms Patten said that was an appropriate place for them to present their message.

Women's Health Victoria executive director Rita Butera said she supports changes to the Act to ensure staff and patients can access reproductive health services safely.

"Women's Health Victoria supported Abortion Law Reform in 2008, ensuring that women have the right to a safe and legal abortion service," she said in a statement on Wednesday.

"We now need to ensure that this is available without intimidation, obstruction or violation of medical privacy."

The bill will be debated on September 2.


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Source: AAP


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