THE Wagga Women's Health Centre's campaign to decriminalise abortion and align NSW legislation with other states is set to ramp up after it formed a statewide alliance.
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The centre is one of 70 health, legal and human rights organisations across the country that joined NSW Pro-Choice Alliance, which is led by the Women's Electoral Lobby and launched recently.
The alliance is set to meet with various stakeholders in the coming weeks to discuss the introduction of a bill that will try to overturn abortion as an offence within the NSW Crimes Act 1900.
The centre's manager Gail Meyer said this means the centre would seek further discussions with Wagga MP Joe McGirr.
"This [alliance] is a coordinated, strategic plan by some major governing bodies so it's hoped that with having so many services that this will finally make a positive change," Ms Meyer said.
"There are a lot of myths and societal control around reproduction and choices.
"If we don't have laws to support the right to access safe services, then it's about imposing a choice on somebody or denying them a choice."
Julie Mecham of the centre said one of the major fears about legislation changes is women using termination as a first point of contraceptive method.
"Research that's been done about it has certainly show that's not to be the case," Ms Mecham said.
"This is really a difficult decision taken very seriously - one that women have a right to as part of their human rights.
One of the closest abortion facilities to Wagga is Gateway Health in Wodonga.
NSW Pro-Choice Alliance's campaign manager Sinead Canning, who also led the Queensland efforts, said women in regional or remote NSW are severely disadvantaged when attempting to access abortion care.
Wagga MP Joe McGirr said his position, reiterated after his maiden speech to Parliament in September 2018, remains unchanged.
"I personally do not support abortion. However, I recognise the expectations of women to access a range of services safely provided," Dr McGirr
"As the member for Wagga Wagga, I will continue to reflect and represent the needs of my electorate.
"I will continue to listen to constituents to make informed decisions that will benefit our region."
NSW Parliament voted against decriminalising abortion in June 2017.
Following the outcome, Right to Life NSW stated on its website that the bill was "extreme, dangerous and wrong".
"It would also have put women in NSW at greater risk of harm, by removing restrictions against unqualified persons performing an abortion (including self-administered abortions) and failing to provide safeguards to ensure women give fully informed consent," the statement reads.
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