March 30, 2011

Former MP Gordon Copeland today expressed his delight at the results of a poll conducted by Curia Market Research and commissioned by Family First which shows that 64% of New Zealanders would support a change in the present law, to ensure that women considering an abortion receive independent counselling, including ultra sound imaging, before deciding whether or not to terminate their pregnancy.

“I drafted such a Bill while in Parliament but it was never drawn from the Member’s Bills ballot”, said Mr Copeland who is now President of the Kiwi Party. "However the Bill, now known as the Abortion (Informed and Free Consent) Bill, remains Kiwi Party policy and an issue we would seek to advance should we be successful in this year's elections.

"The current abortion law dates back to 1977 long before informed consent became an integral part of the New Zealand health system so my Bill would update the present law in line with those developments.

“In addition it would introduce a 'freewill' provision requiring that the woman’s own doctor certify that any request to proceed with an abortion after the completion of counselling, is being made by the women of her own freewill rather than under coercion.

“I have no doubt that these changes would greatly improve our current abortion law and need not polarise the nation, since I think we could all agree that informed choice is better than uninformed choice, and that a so called 'choice' made under coercion is, in reality, no choice at all”, Mr Copeland concluded.

ENDS

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