Wagga MP Joe McGirr will take the electorate's views on abortion "into consideration" if he is in Parliament when a decriminalisation bill comes to a vote.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Independent Sydney MP Alex Greenwich will this week introduce a private members bill aimed at removing abortion from the Crimes Act in NSW.
Dr McGirr's spokesperson said the independent Wagga MP "had already heard from a number of individuals and community groups across the electorate, and would take these views - and those of others - into consideration before casting a vote".
The draft Reproductive Health Reform Bill 2019, which would allow abortions on request up to 22 weeks' gestation, has the backing of Liberal Health Minister Brad Hazzard.
The progress and timing of debate on the bill could determine whether Dr McGirr is present to vote as he is on leave "due to family reasons" until August 5.
NSW Parliament resumes on Tuesday, with the bill's supporters aiming to have briefed Premier Gladys Berejiklian on the draft legislation by Monday.
Dr McGirr's spokesperson said he had "indicated his personal views on this matter, but has also acknowledged that many women expect to have access to these services".
Dr McGirr, who referenced his Catholic faith in his maiden speech to Parliament, told The Daily Advertiser in May, that "I personally do not support abortion. However, I recognise the expectations of women to access a range of services safely provided".
Wagga Catholic Diocese parish priest Father Brendan Lee accused the bill's backers of trying to "rush" the bill through before opponents could get organised or contact their MPs.
"This is being introduced at the 11th hour. People don't know about it yet. They are just going to keep introducing these private members bills until it gets through," he said.
"In the past they have tried to get it in and those opposed to abortion have been able to mobilise and avoid it becoming law."
Julie Mecham, a crisis and support worker at the Wagga Women's Health Centre, said the "best case scenario" for the region's reproductive health would be easier access to surgical abortions.
"Hypothetically, having abortion decriminalised would pave the way for surgeries and clinics to provide surgical termination services in our local area," she said.
"Currently, the nearest place for women seeking services is in Queanbeyan, and because of that distance it makes it so much harder for women who make the decision to terminate pregnancy.
"That may be due to financial restrictions, the complexity and implications of domestic violence, if the person is a carer of a family member or children, or the person, particularly if they are working causally, they won't be paid for the time required.
"It is a day procedure but you can't drive afterwards, which makes it an overnight stay in Queanbeyan, which then adds to the expense of the whole procedure and the implications of being so far away."
Fr Lee acknowledged that decriminalisation would "not make a scrap of difference" in most cases due to other states already having changed their laws.
"Whether it is in the Crimes Act or not, it isn't going to make much difference but it is the principle of the law that you should always fight against a bad law," he said.
"It should not become law in the hope - possibly contradicting myself - that maybe someone might think 'it's still a crime'."
READ MORE
In October, NSW became the last state in Australia to criminalise aspects of abortion following the passage of legislation in Queensland.
At the time, Dr McGirr said he was willing to consider following Queensland's lead.
Ms Mecham said the law in NSW was "barbaric and outdated" due to its adherence to a Crimes Act clause set out more than 100 years ago.
"(Changing the law in Queensland) has not meant that suddenly women who would have decided to continue with a pregnancy would no longer do that," she said.
"It's about making sure there is the appropriate regulations and health standards appointed to this issue for women, who for a whole range of reasons, decide that this is the most appropriate form of procedure for them."