A senior NSW government minister has attacked a bill to decriminalise abortion in the state, and allow conditional late-term terminations, as "unjust" and says "the community won't stand for it".
The criticism by coalition Finance Minister Damien Tudehope, who is anti-abortion, comes ahead of the bill being presented on Thursday to the NSW parliament.
Sydney independent MP Alex Greenwich will introduce the Reproductive Healthcare Reform Bill 2019 to the lower house at 10am.
Finance Minister Damien Tudehope has attacked the bill as "unjust". Source: AAP
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"낙태 허용 법안, 신속히 처리하라"
The private member's bill allows for terminations up to 22 weeks and later if two doctors "consider that, in all the circumstances, the termination should be performed".
But, in an opinion piece published in The Sydney Morning Herald, Mr Tudehope says the bill will make abortion legal in NSW "all the way up to birth, with no meaningful restrictions whatsoever".
"This bill represents an unjust and illiberal law," he added.
"I believe the community won't stand for it."
The draft legislation also gives doctors the right to conscientiously object to performing abortions but they must refer patients to another health practitioner who can provide the service.
NSW is the only state in Australia that hasn't decriminalised abortion.
The bill, which has been backed by Premier Gladys Berejiklian, was originally scheduled to be debated this week but conservative MPs worked behind the scenes to delay debate until next week.
Pro-choice advocates wanting to decriminalise abortion, surround Parliament House with signs saying "It's time", "our bodies, our rights". Source: Twitter
The draft legislation has sparked a backlash from anti-abortion advocates, including church groups, which have slammed it as a "bad bill" and accused the state coalition government of trying to rush it through parliament.
An anti-abortion 'Rally for Life' will be held outside NSW Parliament on Thursday by Right for Life NSW, Family Voice Australia, Family Life International and We Support Women.
Despite the backlash, it's believed the bill has wide cross-party support among the MPs at Macquarie Street.
