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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/01/victoria-to-ban-protesters-from-harassing-women-at-abortion-clinics
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Victoria to ban protesters from harassing women at abortion clinics | Victoria to ban protesters from harassing women at abortion clinics |
(about 21 hours later) | |
Protesters will be banned from harassing women on the steps of Victorian abortion clinics before the end of the year. | Protesters will be banned from harassing women on the steps of Victorian abortion clinics before the end of the year. |
The Victorian government has agreed to a deal with Sex party MP Fiona Patten to put protest exclusion zones outside fertility clinics. | The Victorian government has agreed to a deal with Sex party MP Fiona Patten to put protest exclusion zones outside fertility clinics. |
Patten’s original private member’s bill called for 150-metre exclusion zones and hefty penalties for protesters who breach them, but she said it was up for negotiation. | Patten’s original private member’s bill called for 150-metre exclusion zones and hefty penalties for protesters who breach them, but she said it was up for negotiation. |
“I’m particularly happy to get government support for the objective of my bill,” Patten said on Tuesday. | “I’m particularly happy to get government support for the objective of my bill,” Patten said on Tuesday. |
“I’m confident we’ve got the numbers.” | “I’m confident we’ve got the numbers.” |
Related: Melbourne city council cleared of failing to protect women from anti-abortion protesters | |
On 26 August Melbourne city council was cleared by Melbourne’s supreme court of failing to protect women from anti-abortion protesters at an East Melbourne fertility clinic. | On 26 August Melbourne city council was cleared by Melbourne’s supreme court of failing to protect women from anti-abortion protesters at an East Melbourne fertility clinic. |
The court found the council had not failed in its duty, or broken the law, by allowing women to be harassed by protesters. | The court found the council had not failed in its duty, or broken the law, by allowing women to be harassed by protesters. |
At the time the Victorian health minister, Jill Hennessy, said the government was reviewing Patten’s bill and would carefully consider it, “as with all legislation”. | At the time the Victorian health minister, Jill Hennessy, said the government was reviewing Patten’s bill and would carefully consider it, “as with all legislation”. |
On Tuesday Hennessy said a government bill would be introduced before the end of the year, taking into account Patten’s bill and making sure it was legally robust and enforceable. | On Tuesday Hennessy said a government bill would be introduced before the end of the year, taking into account Patten’s bill and making sure it was legally robust and enforceable. |
“Legislation like this often is the subject of legal challenge,” she said. | “Legislation like this often is the subject of legal challenge,” she said. |
“We need to get penalties commensurate to other public nuisance offences.” | “We need to get penalties commensurate to other public nuisance offences.” |
The bill would give Victoria police the power to stop protesters harassing women. | The bill would give Victoria police the power to stop protesters harassing women. |
“We know we’ve got a challenge of some women being filmed without their consent outside of termination clinics,” Hennessy said. | “We know we’ve got a challenge of some women being filmed without their consent outside of termination clinics,” Hennessy said. |
The proposed 150-metre zone was based on the Tasmanian model, but was not necessarily appropriate for Victoria. | The proposed 150-metre zone was based on the Tasmanian model, but was not necessarily appropriate for Victoria. |
“We don’t want to create a set of rules where we produce unintended consequences,” she said. “Ultimately we’re going to probably have to land on a distance.” | “We don’t want to create a set of rules where we produce unintended consequences,” she said. “Ultimately we’re going to probably have to land on a distance.” |
The government will introduce the legislation before the end of the year. | The government will introduce the legislation before the end of the year. |
The Greens have indicated they will vote for it, and the Liberals will have a free vote, meaning the bill will pass. | The Greens have indicated they will vote for it, and the Liberals will have a free vote, meaning the bill will pass. |
Patten said she had support from a number of Liberal women MPs who supported the right of women to go to fertility clinics without being harassed. | Patten said she had support from a number of Liberal women MPs who supported the right of women to go to fertility clinics without being harassed. |
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