EMOTIONS ran high over plans to decriminalise abortion in Victoria after it was revealed yesterday any baby aborted after 20 weeks must be given a legally recognised burial.
The State Government's proposed legislation would enable Victorian women to have an abortion up to 24 weeks' gestation.
After that terminations can still occur, but only with the consent of two doctors.
Clinical practice requires the loss of any pregnancy through a termination, miscarriage or stillbirth after 20 weeks to be registered as a birth as well as a death, and a burial must be carried out.
Labor MP Christine Campbell last night called an urgent parliamentary meeting to thrash out Bill amendments.
She said the Bill was flimsy and lacked detail, and she wants three main changes: assurances that no health worker suffers a career disadvantage for objecting to working on abortions; that those performing abortions must have some obstetric or gynecological training; and mandatory counselling for women on decision making.
"If the Government is going to decriminalise the process, we need to do it with our eyes wide open and demand modern legislation that spells out a standard of care for our women," she said. "I am determined to get support from all MPs to pass amendments, whatever the outcome of the conscience vote."
MPs remain divided on the issue, which will be debated again in two weeks.
The Australian Christian Lobby's state director, Rob Ward, said the Bill would make access to abortion too easy.
"The Government is trying to radically reform abortion laws to make it far easier for women to have abortions, with no legal consideration of the human cost," he said.
But the Royal Women's Hospital said the reforms reflected current clinical practice.
"The Bill represents an enormous step forward in safeguarding women's rights to appropriate, timely and safe clinical care," hospital chief executive Dale Fisher said.
Women's Health Victoria spokeswoman Petra Begnell said the Bill broadly reflected community standards and current clinical practice.
"Once legislation to decriminalise abortion is passed, the rights and safety of women - mothers, sisters, daughters - will at long last be protected," she said.
"Parliamentarians have a unique opportunity to go down in history as the men and women who stood in support of women and their right to choose."
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