?LEGISLATION to decriminalise abortion in Tasmania appeared in view of passing the ?Legislative Council last night.
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Nine MLCs supported the Reproductive Health Bill through the second reading stage, but securing majority support on the final vote is understood to be dependent on amendments made.
If it passes, Tasmania will become the third Australian jurisdiction to decriminalise abortion, after Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory.
It is the only one of three flagship social reforms initiated in this term of government to make it to this stage.
Pembroke Liberal MLC Vanessa Goodwin and Huon ?independent MLC Paul Harriss both supported the proposed legislation, pending amendments, on the basis that they supported the principle of decriminalisation.
But both said they had strong reservations about the requirement for a doctor or counsellor with a conscientious objection to abortion to refer on to another service.
Murchison independent MLC Ruth Forrest said she had been abused for her public support of the legislation, but said as a midwife who had assisted in terminations she understood the ``absolute imperative for safe, regulated, termination of pregnancy service''.
Hobart MLC Rob Valentine said women should have the ultimate say over ?what happens to their bodies, adding: ``I certainly would not want my doctor telling me whether I was able to get a vasectomy.''
Elwick MLC Adriana Taylor, Launceston MLC Rosemary Armitage, Windermere MLC Ivan Dean, Rumney MLC Tony Mulder and Montgomery Liberal MLC Leonie Hiscutt voted against the bill at a second reading.
Ms Taylor said the proposed legislation lost sight of the life of the unborn child, saying ``devaluing unborn human life devalues all life''.
Mr Dean said he had an issue with late-term abortion, and moved an amendment to lower the proposed 16-week cut-off, beyond which two doctors must say termination is ?medically or psychologically necessary, to 14 weeks.
He also moved for the reference to consideration of social and economic circumstances for later term terminations to be struck from the bill.
All MLCs stressed that it was already legal to terminate a pregnancy in Tasmania, but the proposed legislation would change the framework and, in some circumstances, the criteria.
Health Minister Michelle O'Byrne, who introduced the legislation as a private member's bill, has said she would consider any amendments moved by the upper house but would not accept any changes that restricted access to terminations beyond what is provided in existing legislation.