Pregnant women in violent relationships are being further victimised by laws that criminalise abortion in some parts of Australia, doctors and health experts say.

In Queensland and New South Wales, women face a series of legal hurdles in accessing abortion services.

Abortion still remains in the Criminal Code Act in Queensland, where it is a crime for a woman to end a pregnancy, and for a medical professional to carry out the procedure.

Under the state's existing law, rape, incest and foetal anomaly are not sufficient grounds for a lawful abortion.

However, abortion is legal if a medical practitioner believes continuing the pregnancy is a threat to a woman's mental or physical health.

While the NSW Crimes Act 1900 also lists abortion as a criminal offence, it allows for a broader interpretation than Queensland laws as to what constitutes unlawful.

But experts warn restricting abortion can force victims of domestic violence to maintain contact with their abusers.

They say such women often find themselves pregnant against their will after being denied contraceptives, being raped, or being coerced into becoming pregnant.

Pregnancy 'used to control' domestic violence victims

A sexual health physician who performs medical abortions in northern Queensland told the ABC she saw pregnancy being used as another method of control by domestic violence perpetrators.

Fearing legal and work-related repercussions, Karen (not her real name) requested anonymity.

"A woman may have a partner who becomes violent and becomes very possessive, and a way of expressing ownership over that woman is forced pregnancy," she said.

"Anti-abortion agents say that doesn't happen — [they say] what happens is they're forced to have an abortion. I don't see that."

Children by Choice, a provider of financial support for abortion services, said about one-third of its work was with abused women.

'I wasn't willing for him to ruin another child's life'

NSW woman Louie (not her real name) sought to have an abortion due to fear of being pulled back into an abusive relationship.

Louie was being physically abused by her partner. Even when she fell pregnant with his child, the assaults on her and her three-year-old son from a previous relationship did not stop.

"I left him, I think, six times before I left the last time. My mum helped me leave four or five of those times and he would threaten to burn my mum's house down.

"It was just endless threats and most of those threats had to do with my family or children. And I would end up back there."

A week after what turned out to be her final departure, Louie discovered she was expecting again.

"I wasn't willing or prepared for him coming back into my life and ruin another child's life. So, I chose to have an abortion," she said.

Thinking of women in a situation similar to hers being denied an abortion, Louie says her "heart breaks".

I feel for that situation, of course I do,... but what is your comment?

TheFunPolice wrote on Jun 21^st, 2017 at 11:52am:



That abortion should be legal, free and fully available to all women.

Domestic violence.....is a crime. Yes?

Let's talk about the language we use to describe some of the criminal acts which occur in the private sphere of domestic violence.

There's a criminal term for forced sex. It's called RAPE.

Can anyone tell me the criminal term for forced reproduction? 

Having a child against your will OR ELSE?

There is no such term.....yet.

How can we ever hope to address a domestic violent act if the terminology which describes the crime doesn't even exist?

We have a very long way to go. A VERY long way to go...IF we intend to effect any real change for women.

And feminism has done SFA to help. Grrrrrr!

The thread title is Abortion Laws.

Many are reading this : ABORTION laws.

I'm reading this : Abortion LAWS.

The focus needs to be on our legal system.

That's where women are being held to ransom.

Well trained/experienced CRIMINOLOGISTS AND LAWYERS MUST come to the party.

Otherwise women and children (unborn/born) don't stand a chance.

As a mother.....I'm encouraging my kids to consider making criminology and/or law a career option so as to help make a difference in a scourge that's costing LIVES and the taxpayer BILLIONS of dollars each year.....in Australia alone.

(NB I also intend to live my life vicariously through theirs....but that's another matter).

have a look at the people who have the largest families and the fact that most of their kids are permanently in a situation of child abuse and try and tell me changing abortion laws will have any effect at all. If we cant ensure the kids that were allegedly wanted by their mothers are brought up in the right circumstances why on earth is there even any discussion about changing abortion laws? FAS is a far greater issue in my opinion and that wont be solved by changing any abortion laws.

mothra wrote on Jun 21^st, 2017 at 1:00pm:
Children arent "other problems" or disposable "things" as you seem to believe.

Despite the content of the Qld Criminal Code, abortion is in all respects on demand here.
Link.

Remember: womens choices and actions are always someone elses fault. 

"I was gunna leave him...7 times...then i got pregnant so i couldnt"

Give me a break.  Im sure the other 6 excuses why she "couldnt" were someone elses fault too.

Ive said it before and ill say it again - kndergarten aged boys are held to a higher standard than adult women.

... wrote on Jun 21^st, 2017 at 1:20pm:


And again, Honky demonstrates just how little of an idea he has about the topic at hand.

If this descends in to the rights and wrongs of abortion, while it may go on, it will do so without many I suspect.

The issue has been done to death here a zillion times.

BigOl64 wrote on Jun 21^st, 2017 at 2:01pm:


If they are going to turn a blind eye, they might as well amend the Code....but then why start a political bun fight when they have dealt with it by ignoring what is openly advertised ~ abortion clinics.

AiA wrote on Jun 21^st, 2017 at 12:13pm:


Half of the problem is that men are only allowed pre-emptive control over reproduction... how more of a slave is that?

On the subject heading, I think an analysis of  these cases of 'forced pregnancy' needs to be explored.... without fear or prejudice.

Aussie wrote on Jun 21^st, 2017 at 2:45pm:



Well as I said the Police who enforce the law, don't always 'turn a blind eye' to a crime and nor should they be required to.

If we were talking about the LNP and their male leaders I can guarantee you the replies would not be so accommodating. and they haven't been in the past either.

If two female labor leaders refuse to do anything about women's reproductive rights, I guess the state of QLD will always be the hillbilly joke you southerners make it out to be.



A 12-YEAR-OLD Queensland girl’s heartbreaking abortion case is at the centre of a renewed push to decriminalise abortion across Australia.
The Rockhampton schoolgirl, identified by the courts only as “Q”, sought an abortion in April this year after becoming pregnant.
After asking for an abortion from her local general practitioner, the girl was referred to a public hospital. There, although a specialist obstetrician deemed it appropriate for her to have a termination, the health service administration applied to the Queensland Supreme Court to authorise the abortion.
That meant a lengthy litigation process that delayed the termination the girl was later found by the court to be entitled to by a month, and a whole lot of distress.
The case of Q is the focus of an article published in the Medical Journal of Australia advocating for the criminal laws in place in Queensland and New South Wales — which saw the legal system interrupt Q’s abortion — to be repealed.
The article’s authors argue for the abortion to be legalised as underage girls seek help with unwanted pregnancies. They cite figures from Brisbane organisation Children by Choice saying that in the 12 months to June 2016, the services saw 16 girls aged 13 or under who presented with unplanned pregnancy.



http://www.news.com.au/news/heartbreaking-12yearolds-abortion-case-at-centre-of-...

Come on BigOl!  That's a 12 year old girl!  What Doctor in their right mind is going to terminate the pregnancy of an infant without tinplating their arse?

Aussie wrote on Jun 21^st, 2017 at 4:24pm:



So how about a 21 yr old.

Jeez you can do this research yourself you know.


The not guilty verdicts handed down in an historical Queensland abortion trial yesterday could set a legal precedent for women who procure their own abortion, according to a medical ethicist.

A Cairns District Court jury yesterday dismissed the case against Tegan Simone Leach, 21, and her partner Sergie Brennan, 22, who had been charged with procuring an abortion and supplying drugs to procure an abortion, respectively.

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/did-abortion-jury-ignore-law-in-favou...



Not everything is overlooked QLD labor aren't the progressive women's rights champions you clowns make them out to be.

Neferti wrote on Jun 21^st, 2017 at 4:38pm:

BigOl64 wrote on Jun 21^st, 2017 at 4:39pm:
No, even in QLD, which you didnt know
Quote:
Any doctor can agree with a woman that her mental health is at stake and this is the out for the physician.

rhino wrote on Jun 21^st, 2017 at 4:52pm:


Correct.

mothra wrote on Jun 21^st, 2017 at 4:48pm:


Don't talk to me about "women's rights". 

Females should NOT expect to use "abortion" (or termination if you like) as a form of CONTRACEPTION.

A girl of 12 has absolutely NO IDEA and nor did the boy who got her pregnant.

Should she have the baby and let her Mother bring it up?  Or should she have the baby and put it up for adoption?  Or should she have a termination?

Do you have daughters?

BigOl64 wrote on Jun 21^st, 2017 at 5:18pm:
No, I am correct. This is the one of the most common reasons a physician uses for performing an abortion right across Australia, regardless of which state. Doctors are not being prosecuted and are unable to be prosecuted for this.

rhino wrote on Jun 21^st, 2017 at 5:42pm:




Never said that doctors were being prosecuted, jeezus fkking christ read what I post.


The WOMEN are being prosecuted. NOT the doctors the WOMEN.


FFS learn to read what has been written. 

All this talk and apparent compassion for children's live when they're unborn, but the exact same people seem to stop caring once they're born as many of the posters in here are calling for support for Hanson's comments to segregate all children with ASD.  Just like the Repiblicans in the US.  When it comes to telling a women what she can or can't do with her body they're all about the children, but once they're born they don't give a bugger.

Prime Minister for Canyons wrote on Jun 22^nd, 2017 at 1:03pm:


A simple answer......yes.

My wife lost 4 children when we were trying to have a family.
Each one was mourned.
We were blessed with three.

I'm totally supportive of women on Pro-Abortion.

Yes - it is sad that there must be an act of 'abortion' in the first place, but considering that a under-aged young girl has been raped by her step-dad and impregnated (which is considered a 'Porn Fantasy' on many porn sites ...much like women shaving their vaginas to arouse 'infantilism' for men ) - she may DIE in the act of giving birth, let alone lack the support to raise the child after she survives.

We all know the 'convict' past of Australia - sent here because the birth-rate in the UK was in plague proportions which resulted in desperate acts of crime just to attain food.

Since then, the SHAME OF PROCREATION has been a shadow of Australian culture and hence why our Population growth has always been 'minimal', sometimes in Recession and women have been aiming for 'career' and 'money' orientated lifestyles.
In one year we had...
Juliar Gillard as Prime Minister (Power)
Quentin Bryce as Gov-Gen (Cultural Superiority ...being British)
Gina Reinhart as Richest person (Money)

If Australian women have children, especially out of wedlock - its considered as "Houso", "Westie" & "Bogun"
, to be poor with kids. A 'cultural' SHAME.

So Australia, with its high suicide rate and 'minimalistic' population growth - relies heavily on 'immigration'.
The 'financial lifestyle' of Australia has also changed since the year 2000.
Now its an accelerated strive for Money, power, etc.
Australia has gone from the 'Lucky Country' to the 'RIP-OFF country' as everything has skyrocketed in 'cost of living'.

Easy to do, being a 'rich, over-indulgent' nation when you don't have as many mouths to feed.
Australia is 'over-achieving' something fierce!

So the shame of Abortion is unjustified,
especially when it's been exploited to hide the fact of something more sinister on a larger scale.

Lets face it also.
When it comes to Australian Politics as it currently is - there is no way the Government(s) can cope with the responsibility of an Australian population the size of the USA.
It's a 'default' (or bull****) existence of National Wealth - when you keep the National population growth 'aborted'.

Millions of people around the world try to 'smuggle' into this country ILLEGALLY because they are enticed by the 'Rich White Lifestyles' that are pumped out via TV continuously. Rich white people needing poor destitute foreigners.

This country is out of control.

Respect a woman's choice for personal abortion.
But say "No" to our national abortion 'control' methods of minimalistic population growth.
So screw you Jerry Harvey, Dick Smith & Co.
Its not 'about the Money' especially when we were living in the 'lucky' country to begin with. How much money do you need?
If Australia can have a self-sufficient population growth that exceeds immigration levels - then I can see a perfect example and justification for expressions of so-called 'Aussie patriotism'.

Save the woman (girl) and not the Government's 'wealth'.

mothra wrote on Jun 21^st, 2017 at 11:52am:


Bit misleading don't you think mothra?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abortion_in_Australia#Queensland

Abortions are carried out as "therapeutic miscarriages", performed by specialists, upon request of the patient after an appointment with their local GP. This procedure is only applicable to pregnancies less than 22 weeks and is partly covered by Medicare or more-so by private healthcare insurers. In addition to this, abortions can be performed if a foetal defect is considered to be "inconsistent with life" – this has been narrowly interpreted to mean that the newborn would die immediately or shortly after birth. While this is the case under law, in practice doctors and family planning services generally allow abortions for other reasons, such as the mother not feeling ready to have a child.

Not feeling ready to have a child eh?

Reason for abortion???

Well my response to that is this :

What woman in her right mind would ever feel ready to go through months of morning sickness, devastating  body changes, stretch marks all over her growing abdomen and breasts, inability to relax and get any sleep because of a bulging watermelon type structure in her tummy....then be required to push said watermelon type structure through a tiny hole?

And what woman in her right mind would be ready to go through the pain of childbirth only to face that strange little alien that comes up to look at you and you're left thinking  OMG what is that???

And finally....what woman in her right mind would want to have said strange little alien placed on her breast ONLY to find it biting you and drawing liquid stuff out of you?

Yet I've got 4 freaking kids and I can assure you I was never ready to have them. I had to have a general anaesthetic and a Caesarean section in order to cope with the trauma of not being ready to have children.

But they're here and I'm glad that they are.

Well I'm mostly glad. If they're naughty I'm not glad.

God I'm glad I don't have to bloody breastfeed either. VERY trying and tiring work.

What annoys me most is that I'm going to have to lie to my girls about all this one day because I know they're never gonna be ready to have kids either if I tell them the bloody painful truth!

Cu Chulainn wrote on Jan 22^nd, 2018 at 9:42pm:


Ahhh but to feel ready.....

That was the point!

No woman could ever truly feel ready for such a daunting and arduous journey.

NB I was addressing the ridiculous notion of NOT FEELING READY as a valid reason for having an abortion.

Sorry but I do firmly believe that women need more support so as to encourage them to feel more confident. They're never going to feel ready...but they sure as hell should be given every opportunity to feel supported and encouraged.

Now as regards our kids....I'm fully prepared to lie about the harrowing experience of childbirth etc by saying it's all lovely and awesome etc. Otherwise I'm never going to see any grandkids. Ok?

Cu Chulainn wrote on Jan 22^nd, 2018 at 9:21pm:


Well, if ever a truth was posted here, that would be it.  FD....how can she respond while you have her under a ban?

Quote:


You would be the very first woman I have ever heard describe her just born child as an alien, and ~ as an alien who bites your breast.  Bites?  With what?  Were your aliens born with teeth?

Aussie wrote on Jan 22^nd, 2018 at 10:15pm:


You've never had kids with any woman. Have you?

If you had....then you would know why your post is so ridiculous.

Gordon wrote on Jan 22^nd, 2018 at 10:19pm:


He (clearly) doesn't.

And his post clearly exposes the fact that he's never  been anywhere inside a delivery room either.

He probably just has nieces and nephews.

He's the eccentric recluse uncle who never got married is my bet 😂😂😂😂

Lisa Jones wrote on Jan 22^nd, 2018 at 10:12pm:


I wasn't her kid and was at the birth of all my kids.

Lisa Jones wrote on Jan 22^nd, 2018 at 10:22pm:


I missed both ours because she had a general and they kick the bloke out. On the plus side I had a strange little screaming alien to bond with by myself for a few hours  while mum was in recovery

Let's all hope this thread doesn't turn into a payout on member's families. I might have to PM a GMod if that happens and dibber dob.

Pardon????  That is a totally bizarre comment, mothra...... how do abortion laws keep women in family violence?  Frankly - I've heard some poo from the feminist lobby, but that takes the cake.

As for 'aliens' - my children's mother couldn't wait to dock with her little aliens.... any woman who says her children born are aliens is a nut case..

Sorry 'bout that....

What do you expect the kid to do?  Wait for nurse to arrive with a bottle?  Does any other mammalian offspring do that?  Jesus - there was a news article today about a baby sloth found on a beach after a massive storm, crying for its mother and sustenance.. would you refuse it?  I wouldn't....

That's two insane women posting here - another good reason to deny them the vote.... let alone an opportunity to run this nation....

Gordon wrote on Jan 22^nd, 2018 at 10:52pm:


Feminists whine about 'real men' and yet refuse to accept the simple standards of being Real Women.

Hang ten a day until the supply runs out......

Gordon wrote on Jan 22^nd, 2018 at 10:52pm:


No point paying out on people that are not here to reply.

Lisa Jones wrote on Jan 22^nd, 2018 at 10:25pm:


Oh and my pregnancy long morning sickness episodes has left me with a chronic fear of breakfast.

I STILL throw up if I attempt to eat anything before 11 am.

I do sometimes wonder if I've been left with some form of post traumatic stress.

Like I said.... I'm going to lie to my kids and pretend it was all lovely and awesome. I've already been doing that anyway. I don't want my awful experiences/issues thrust onto them! It will affect them in a negative way for sure!

I will say this though....I'm very thankful for medical technology. My obstetricians concluded that my body just couldn't go into labor despite everything they tried. 35 hrs after being induced I dilated 1 cm. Foetal monitors showed foetal distress (I was 1 week overdue too). I was rushed into theatre and I remember trying to cry. I just couldn't produce a tear because of the shock I was in. Oh and I was being shouted at by very concerned doctors about how my life and that of my babies was in danger. Bloody hell I can still see it all. There was this theatre nurse running behind the trolley trying to put this green cap on my head. It was like a shower cap. She couldn't catch up. The loud thud of doors followed by bright white lights and stainless steel and people screaming in panic then sudden total silence and utter blackness followed.

When I woke up I did so because I felt sudden sharp stabbing pains in my abdomen. So yeah I woke up in shock screaming my guts out because I thought I had been stabbed and the sharp blades were still inside me. The pain was and is still indescribable.

A sudden rush of medical staff and I heard someone say Oh my God she's in shock. I just couldn't help it I was shaking. I was hot/cold and shaking like I was having a fit. I then remember feeling heaven. It was just at that point I heard someone say I've given her too much morphine. I recall smiling as I collapsed back into my pillows.

All my deliveries were pretty much like that. The stuff of bloody awful nightmares!

So yeah....I definitely need to hide all this stuff from my kids.

They're just too beautiful and I love them too much to terrify them with such details.

Anyway....night all 💤💤💤💤i

Lisa Jones wrote on Jan 22^nd, 2018 at 11:06pm:


Sounds like you may have been able to do yourself and mankind a favour by not breeding! 
I guess it's too late now.

Cu Chulainn wrote on Jan 22^nd, 2018 at 11:09pm:


You want me to report you to a GMod again....don't you? 

Grappler Truth Teller Feller wrote on Jan 22^nd, 2018 at 11:17pm:


You can be funny Grap but wilfully blind? Read beyond labels.

"In .... New South Wales, women face a series of legal hurdles in accessing abortion services".

What a pack of utter bullshit..... there are clinics right there any time you want.... have been for more than twenty five years.

If they're that goddamned stupid, maybe they need to be kept in family violence.....

Feminism amazes me - on the one hand they screech about how wonderful and superior women are - then they start on bleating about how victimised they are....

Isn't it time to give it a rest?  Haven't enough people died to give ten women a top spot in the corporation?  Jesus Christ - if Labor has its way, we'll have 60% farken women telling us how this country and its people should be run... as if they'd even begin to know given their track record of using the instruments of government for self-advancement and oppression of men...

Grappler Truth Teller Feller wrote on Jan 22^nd, 2018 at 11:51pm:


Labor has it's inevitable way nine months after they get what they want.

Cu Chulainn wrote on Jan 22^nd, 2018 at 11:53pm:


Well put....  again - I hold no brief for ANY major party..... none worth a tinker's curse....

Jasin wrote on Jan 22^nd, 2018 at 11:56pm:


No, takes two to tango.

Jasin wrote on Jan 22^nd, 2018 at 11:58pm:


So you know better?     

Birth is a natural function shared by every mammal and many others...... what has that to do with abortion laws restricting women from leaving family violence?

At least you have the courtesy to say FAMILY violence - when countless studies show that most such is reciprocal and many show that it is started by.... women!!

What IS your point?

Nobody argues that women are not good at giving birth - they're made for it (hello) - how does that somehow become a political issue about power and control and violent situations?

Cu Chulainn wrote on Jan 22^nd, 2018 at 11:59pm:

yes we can- haven't you heard- its a brave new world- we only need a few of you to mix up the gene pool a bit and the rest of you are surplus to reuirements sorry lol-

Agnes wrote on Jan 23^rd, 2018 at 12:01am:


Where will you get the needed DNA? IE Sperm? Even if it's just a few of us, that would make those men even more important.

there would be no shortage of willing donors Yogi

Agnes wrote on Jan 23^rd, 2018 at 12:01am:


No you can't.  You can take the product of a jack-off - but it is still the product of a ... MAN.

Stop dreaming.  I have a Gay rello who has fathered by proxy six or more children... so what?  It is still his male sperm that does the job regardless...

Would you prefer that there be no men?

This argument is getting totally ridiculous..... along the usual lines...   

If you want a few losers to run the gene show - go for it...... there are countless women out there who will opt for the usual course..... of choosing a mate for themselves.....