Page 2367 - Week 07 - Thursday, 4 August 2022
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Environment, Transport and City Services—Standing Committee (Ninth Assembly)—Environment, Climate Change and Biodiversity—Standing Committee—Schedule of Statutory Appointments—9th Assembly and 10th Assembly—Period 1 July to 31 December 2020.
Health and Community Wellbeing—Standing Committee
Statement by chair
MR DAVIS (Brindabella) (11.20): Pursuant to standing order 246A, I wish to make a statement on behalf of the Standing Committee on Health and Community Wellbeing.
On 1 July 2022 the ACT Legislative Assembly Standing Committee on Health and Community Wellbeing resolved to conduct an inquiry into abortion and reproductive choice in the ACT. In response to what our community is seeing unfold overseas, now is the right time to reflect on the accessibility, affordability and legal protections for abortion and reproductive health services for people here in the ACT. The terms of reference are to inquire into and report on the following matters:
(1) accessibility of abortion and reproductive choice for people in the ACT, including abortion medication, and taking into consideration barriers for:
(a) non-English speakers;
(b) victims of domestic and family violence, including coercive control;
(c) people with a disability;
(d) young people and minors; and
(e) other vulnerable demographics;
(2) affordability of abortion and reproductive choice in the ACT, including:
(a) access to bulk billing general practitioners;
(b) indirect costs such as transport, leave from work, childcare; and
(c) options for low-income patients;
(3) legal protections for abortion rights in the ACT, including:
(a) comparison with other Australian jurisdictions;
(b) interactions with non-ACT legislative instruments (e.g. with Commonwealth law);
(c) potential implications for IVF providers; and
(d) effectiveness of exclusion zones around abortion facilities;
(4) access to information to support a variety of possible reproductive choices, including choosing to give birth; and
(5) any other related matters.
The committee has publicly called for submissions to the inquiry, and the closing date for submissions is 5 pm on Monday, 15 August 2022. The committee expects to hold a number of public hearings soon after this date, and will report to the Assembly by Tuesday, 18 October 2022.
Justice and Community Safety—Standing Committee
Statement by chair
MR CAIN (Ginninderra) (11.22): Pursuant to standing order 246A, I wish to make a statement on behalf of the Standing Committee on Justice and Community Safety.
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