Abortion on Demand (Up to 9 Months)

Tasmanian citizens draw to the attention of the House: That the Minister for Children has tabled a bill which would allow: 1. Abortion-on-demand of unborn babies up to the age of 16 weeks from conception; and 2. Abortion-on-demand of unborn babies up to 9 months with extensive scope for justification compared to current law. Your petitioners are earnest and sincere in our belief that such changes are unacceptable and ignore the precious value of the lives of unborn babies. Your petitioners request the House to: • recognise the dignity and humanity of unborn babies; • understand that the Bill effectively provides 'abortion on demand' at any stage of pregnancy, which is unacceptable to people who value the humanity and sanctity of the unborn boy or girl; • recognise the lack of credibility in the drafting, where the stage of pregnancy requiring no justification, has been lowered without explanation; • recognise that the late term provision which refers to "current and future physical, psychological, economic and circumstances" is particularly offensive, reducing babies' lives to an arbitrary economic inconvenience causing the extreme outcome of abortion on demand at any stage of pregnancy; • introduce local pregnancy support services which assist mothers from all social and economic circumstances, so that the lives of unborn girls and boys can be preserved from abortion's irreversible fatality; and • reject the legislation tabled by the Minister for Children creating 'abortion on demand' provisions for all stages of pregnancy. Your petitioners implore you to act with wisdom and courage to protect all in our society.