PO Box 2005, 237 Lutwyche Road

Windsor Q 4030, Australia

info@childrenbychoice.org.au
www.childrenbychoice.org.au
phone 07 3357 9933
fax 07 3857 6246
Providing counselling, information,
education and advocacy on all
unplanned pregnancy options -
abortion, adoption and parenting.
ABN 51 809 774 188
Counselling, information and referral
07 3357 5377
Free call 1800 177 725
Education, training and media
07 3357 9933
To Our Bodies Our Choices,
Re: Crimes Amendment (Zoes Law) Bill 2013 (No 2)
Children by Choice provides counselling, information and education services on all options
with an unplanned pregnancy, including abortion, adoption and parenting. We provide
a Queensland-wide counselling, information and referral service to women experiencing
unplanned pregnancy, deliver sexual and reproductive health education sessions in schools, and
oer traInIng for CPs and other health and communIty professIonals on unplanned pregnancy
options. We are recognised nationally as a leading advocacy group for the needs and rights of
women in relation to access to reproductive health services, including safe and legal abortion.
Children by Choice fully supports the work of the Our Bodies, Our Choices coalition in
opposing the Crimes Amendment (Zoes Law) Bill 2013 (No 2) in New South Wales.
We joIn opponents of thIs 8Ill In acknowledgIng the sIgnIcant paIn, grIef and dIstress
experienced by women and their families following the loss of a wanted pregnancy. We
sympathise with their desire to see their loss acknowledged. However, we do not believe that
thIs 8Ill Is an eectIve way to recognIse that loss.
While this Bill may not be intended to purposefully limit womens capacity to make
reproductive decisions, we must acknowledge that this is a potential outcome of such
legislation. Internationally, personhood legislation has been used as a method of limiting
womens access to reproductive health services; in a state such as New South Wales where
lawful access to termInatIon remaIns tenuous, we sImply cannot aord to Impose any further
legal uncertainty around womens right to choose.
We are also very concerned at the lack of consultation with the community, health and
womens sectors around the introduction and intent of this legislation, particularly given the
possibile impacts of this Bill as discussed above.
We urge parliamentarians not to support this Bill.
Kate Marsh
PublIc LIaIson Dcer
Children by Choice