HEALTH Minister Michelle O'Byrne is hopeful of passing legislation this week to decriminalise abortion, after a report into a parliamentary inquiry found the majority of expert witnesses supported the move.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Legislative Council is expected to debate the Reproductive Health Bill on Tuesday, giving the lower house two days to approve any amendments if the legislation passes.
MLCs were understood to be split eight votes to six in favour of the bill earlier this year, a position that appears unchanged.
Ms O'Byrne sponsored a private member's bill to remove voluntary termination of pregnancy from the Criminal Code.
She praised the Legislative Council committee for a thorough investigation of the legislation.
"I think the committee has taken a lot of effort to hear a range of views, and some of them have been very divisive," Ms O'Byrne said.
"While people on the fringes of the debate, on both sides, would have some concerns, I think most people would think that the findings are sensible.
"I look forward to the speedy resolution of this issue, given that it has been fully investigated by the house."
The report found that most aspects of the bill, including the controversial protest-free access zones around clinics and the requirements for doctors with a conscientious objection to refer the patient to another doctor, were necessary and reasonable.
However it did find that a proposed $32,500 fine for counsellors who did not follow the conscientious objection rules was excessive.
A number of MLCs are drafting amendments to the bill, but none are expected to propose substantive changes.