WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 1980
+ IT IS ALSO PROPOSED,+ SAID THE SPOKESMAN, TO INTRODUCE A NEW PROVISION FOR AN OFFENCE OF CHILD DESTRUCTION, IN ORDER TO PROTECT AN UNBORN CHILD CAPABLE OF BEING BORN ALIVE, BUT BEFORE IT HAS AN EXISTENCE INDEPENDENT OF ITS MOTHER.+
THIS PROVISION IS BASED ON THE UNITED KINGDOM INFANT LIFE (PRESERVATION) ACT 1929.
+FOR THE PURPOSE OF A PROSECUTION FOR CHILD DESTRUCTION, IT WOULD BE PRESUMED THAT A WOMAN PREGNANT FOR 28 WEEKS OR MORE WAS AT THAT TIME PREGNANT WITH A CHILD CAPABLE OF BEING BORN ALIVE,+ SAID THE SPOKESMAN.
THE PENALTIES FOR ILLEGAL ABORTION AND OTHER RELATED OFFENCES HAVE BEEN EXAMINED AND TWO CHANGES ARE PROPOSED.
IN CASES OF ILLEGAL ABORTION THE COURT HAS AT PRESENT NO POWER TO IMPOSE A FINE INSTEAD OF OR IN ADDITION TO, A TERM OF
IMPRISONMENT.
THE BILL EMPOWERS A COURT TO IMPOSE MONETARY PENALTIES FOR ILLEGAL ABORTIONS AND ALSO PROVIDES THAT A PERSON PERFORMING AN ILLEGAL ABORTION SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO A HEAVIER TERM OF IMPRISONMENT THAN THE PREGNANT WOMAN INVOLVED.
MAXIMUM PENALTIES THAT CAN BE IMPOSED ARE
* WOMAN PROCURING AN ABORTION
* ILLEGAL ABORTIONIST
-
* CHILD DESTRUCTION
SEVEN YEARS IMPRISONMENT AND A FINE TO BE DECIDED BY THE COURT-
LIFE IMPRISONMENT AND A FINE TO BE DECIDED BY THE COURT-
LIFE IMPRISONMENT AND A FINE TO BE DECIDED BY THE COURT-
* INFANTICIDE - LIFE IMPRISONMENT AND A FINE TO BE DECIDED
BY THE COURT.
THE PURPOSE OF THE UNDESIRABLE MEDICAL ADVERTISEMENTS (AMENDMENT) BILL IS TO PROHIBIT ADVERTISEMENTS IN NEWSPAPERS AND STREETS RELATING TO THE AVAILABILITY OF FACILITIES FOR ABORTIONS, EXCEPT THOSE PUBLISHED WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID IT IS HOPED THAT WITH GREATER PUBLICITY ON THE AVAILABILITY OF FACILITIES FOR LEGAL ABORTION, WOMEN GENUINELY IN NEED WILL BE PERSUADED TO SEEK SAFE ABORTION IN GOVERNMENT OR APPROVED HOSPITALS AND CLINICS.+
THE MEDICAL PROFESSION IS NOW BEING CONSULTED ON CERTAIN PROFESSIONAL ASPECTS OF THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION, BEFORE THE TWO BILLS ARE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
+ IT IS INTENDED, SAID THE SPOKESMAN, THAT THERE SHOULD BE INFORMED DEBATE DURING CONSULTATION.+
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