Premier Gladys Berejiklian has urged the NSW public - and colleagues - to "trust the process" over a bill to decriminalise abortion, saying discord within her government was "the nature of democracy".
She's been publicly backed by two opponents of the draft legislation - Attorney-General Mark Speakman and Police Minister David Elliott - with the former expressing confidence Ms.Berejiklian will lead the Liberals at the next election.
The NSW upper house is continuing to debate the draft legislation to remove abortion from the Crimes Act but will not reach a final vote this week.
The Reproductive Health Care Reform Bill passed the lower house in early August, 59 to 31.
Ms Berejiklian on Wednesday distanced herself from the decision to delay a vote on the bill and drag debate into September, but said she was completely comfortable with the move.
"It's not a government bill, it's a private member's bill. The upper house made that decision yesterday in relation to taking a breather and I'm completely comfortable with that decision," Ms Berejiklian told reporters in Sydney.
"Please trust the process - I trust the process. I know the process will deliver an outcome the vast majority of people in NSW are very comfortable with."
The premier has faced speculation about her leadership and pressure from bill opponents who've criticised the way it was handled and the time available for public consultation.
Mr Speakman, who voted against the bill in the lower house, said abortion was a contentious issue and all MPs were having their say.
"There are going to be colourful and emotional statements from time to time, strong feelings, strong passion, but ... when this bill is dealt with one way or another this government will get on with what we've been elected to do," he told reporters.
He said the government and people of NSW were "blessed to have a strong leader".
"I am very confident Gladys Berejiklian will be leading us into the next election," Mr Speakman said.
Mr Elliott, who accused colleague and leader of the house Andrew Constance of "maladministration" over the bill's introduction, said he was happy with the premier's leadership on the issue.
Shadow treasurer Walt Secord on Tuesday said women had waited 119 years for abortion to be removed from the criminal code "and now the premier is delaying it to save herself".
Australian Lawyers for Human Rights expressed disappointment in the bill's delay, saying the reforms were long overdue.
"As the only remaining Australian state that has never reformed its abortion laws and does not provide for lawful termination of pregnancy it is incumbent on the NSW Parliament to urgently reform laws on abortion," ALHR president Kerry Weste said in a statement.
