Media Release 27 February 2021.
The Contraception, Sterilisation and Abortion [Safe Areas] Amendment bill of Louisa Wall, Labour MP is a government bill masquerading as a private member’s bill. The bill violates the right to free speech, freedom of assembly and association. These human rights are guaranteed under the NZ Bill of Rights 1990. Protection of these rights is essential in a free and democratic society.
It is farcical for the Prime Minister to declare that the bill is a conscience issue and that Members of her government do not have to vote as directed. The community has not forgotten that so called safe zones sought around the killing centres for the unborn were included in the Abortion Legislation Bill.
Louisa Wall states: “At the time there was an administrative mishap in the House. What we did was translate that part of the Bill that wasn’t voted on that was subsequently lost into a Member’s Bill.” This anti-feminist bill faithfully represents the wishes of Jacinda Ardern, the architect of the bill and is government policy.
Right to Life believes that the Prime Minister will make it perfectly clear to her caucus by directing them on how they must vote. We expect the bill to receive massive obligatory support from the Labour caucus, with several Members being permitted to vote against the bill to sustain the charade that this was a Private Member’s bill.
Parliament and government have a serious responsibility to protect our human rights, these rights are enshrined in the Bill of Rights. The government of Jacinda Ardern is callously abdicating its responsibilities to the community by remaining shamefully silent and not defending our human rights protected by the Bill of Rights. Should we be surprised, when the government is prepared to deny the right to life of the unborn, the weakest and most defenceless member of the human family, that the government is also prepared to violate the right of free speech, assembly and association of the born?
The government is seeking to normalise the killing of the unborn by calling abortion a health service and that a killing centre is a safe place for the women denying that abortion is violence against women and their precious unborn.
Right to Life rejects the claim of Louisa Wall and the government that women are being harassed at abortion facilities by peaceful and law abiding citizens.
Right to Life requests that the government produce irrefutable evidence that women are being harassed at abortion facilities.
The government should also produce evidence that the Summary Offences Act is inadequate to deal with any civil disorders.
Ken Orr,
Spokesperson,
Right to Life