HAVING easy access to abortion did not change Elizabeth's decision, but it did make it easier.

Elizabeth, who has asked to be referred to by her first name only, was 22 years old when she fell pregnant to her boyfriend in 2008.

``It was difficult because he was really against me having a baby, and that was difficult because I kind of wanted it,'' she said.

``Deep down I know I couldn't have it but I had all these little  ?what-ifs, all these little dreams for the baby.''

Elizabeth now lives in Hobart but was then living in Melbourne to attend university.

``I was really lucky because it happened less than a month after the laws had changed in Victoria,'' she said.

``That made it a lot less stressful for me, because I just had to make an appointment.

``I didn't have to try and justify  ?myself to a doctor, to `get permission' to have it done.''

On Friday Health Minister Michelle O'Byrne announced a private member's bill to copy the Victorian legislation and decriminalise abortion in Tasmania.

That bill is open for public comment until March 22, but some critics   have called for more time.

Elizabeth supports the proposal.

``Women will have abortions regardless of the law, so I think it's  ?really important that women have access to safe and legal abortion and are not prevented from doing something that's right for them,'' she said.

``Making that kind of decision is hard enough without religious or self-righteous people trying to make it more difficult for us.''

Elizabeth is angry at arguments that women might rush into an abortion if there are no legal barriers, and said it was not a decision anyone made lightly.