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Friday, 13 January 2012

get up- about abortions being illegal

Dear Britta,

It's hard to believe this is happening in Australia. On Tuesday a young couple from Cairns will go on criminal trial for attempting to have an abortion.

Teagan was just 19 years old when she was charged under archaic 111 year old laws that classify abortion as a criminal 'offence against morality'. If found guilty, she faces up to 7 years imprisonment.

How can this happen in Australia? Because in Queensland, and in other states, abortion is still illegal in the criminal code. And despite the fact that 90% of Australians believe early-term abortions should be legal, an extreme minority has our politicians scared into inaction.

An anti-choice organisation has organised a petition in defence of these archaic laws, with over 6,000 signatures. The opposing petition, calling for the laws to be scrapped, has less then 3,000. Let's fix that right now, so that no politician has an excuse for inaction:

http://www.getup.org.au/campaign/my_choice_is_no_crime  [add your name to the petition of 3,000]

As a result of this case, public hospitals in Queensland have started refusing abortions - even to women whose pregnancy is due to sexual assault.

Doctors fear criminal prosecution and up to 14 years imprisonment for providing advice and treatment, leaving young couples in impossible situations.

How on earth could this happen in Australia? The Queensland Parliament has failed to act, because MPs have been flooded with phone calls and emails in support of these archaic laws.

Some extreme anti-choice activists have even thrown flaming molotov cocktails at Teagan and Sergie's house. We can't stand for this in Australia.

Please add your name to the national petition for choice today, and forward it to friends and family:

http://www.getup.org.au/campaign/my_choice_is_no_crime

Queensland Premier, Anna Bligh, said she would support a bill to repeal the laws - but won't introduce one herself. She says there isn't enough support - and her colleagues in Parliament have been silent so far.

We can't let politicians hide behind a thin facade of opposition put up by extreme anti-choice activists. As a national movement of 380,000 strong, let's remove their excuse today with a huge national petition to repeal these archaic laws. Please add your name and forward this to friends before the petition is printed in huge newspaper ads later week.

Thank you for being part of this, The Getup Team 

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