A vote to remove abortion from the New South Wales criminal code has been delayed until September.
The NSW Reproductive and Health Care Reform Bill is currently being debated in the state's upper house. The bill has been co-sponsored by 15 MPs from across the political spectrum.
Today, Premier Gladys Berejiklian instructed MPs to only undertake first and second readings of the bill.
That leaves amendments - the last stage of the process before a final vote - delayed until parliament resumes in three weeks.
THE WHY: mounting pressure from conservatives inside the NSW Liberal Party.
Basically what we're seeing right now is a tussle between the moderates and conservatives of the NSW Liberal Party.
Both NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and state Health Minister Brad Hazzard voted in favour of the bill when it successfully passed the lower house earlier this month.
However, many of the NSW Liberal Party's 35 MPs voted against the bill, and a conservative group in the party has continued to campaign against it.
A number of NSW Upper House MPs fronted a press conference this morning, arguing that the bill has been rushed through parliament and amendments should be carefully considered.
THE HOW: Conservative MPs have raised several issues with the bill in its current form - these still have to be debated before it can be passed.
There are a number of amendments set to be debated in this bill; several that have got 'pro-life' supporters (and MPs) particularly fired up.
Conscientious objection:
Under the bill's current form, doctors who have a conscientious objection to abortion must both disclose it to a patient, and refer the woman to another doctor who does not.
One Nation upper house MP Mark Latham has slammed the idea that doctors with an objection will have to refer patients on.
He claimed the bill would "wipe" the "religious freedom of doctors and nurses not to participate in the process".
Sex selection:
The issue of "sex selection" was raised by MP Tanya Davies when the bill was being debated in the lower house.
Ms Davies tried - and failed - to have an amendment included that stated terminations were not to be "used for gender selection." She claimed that some migrant communities were aborting female foetuses because of a preference for boys.
During a review of the legislation, a number of medical and legal experts disputed the claims that this was taking place.
So instead of Ms Davies' proposal, an amendment has been included to do further research on whether the practice is taking place in Australia.
Gestational limits:
As per La Trobe University's Erica Millar, gestational limits refer to "the point where the pregnant person is no longer the primary decision-maker and, instead, specific criteria must be met."
In its current form, the bill will allow terminations up to 22 weeks by registered doctors, as well as later abortions if two doctors, considering all the circumstances, agree the termination should take place.
This has prompted opponents of the bill to argue that under the legislation, abortions could take place "right up until the day of birth".
This includes former Deputy PM Barnaby Joyce, who made the statement in a series of robocalls released today .
So what happens next?
The bill will need to debate the amendments, before it can move to a third reading - and a final vote - to pass the house.
Pro-choice groups say the delay won't affect their fight for change.
Our Bodies Our Choices CEO Claire Pullen told The Feed the pro-choice movement is very motivated.
"As time goes on, they get more interested and involved."
She says it's been great to see so many people share their stories.
"It's helpful to shine a light on why we need this reform."
