{"id":251481,"date":"2021-08-17T12:43:16","date_gmt":"2021-08-17T17:43:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.liveaction.org\/news\/?p=251481"},"modified":"2021-08-20T19:36:57","modified_gmt":"2021-08-21T00:36:57","slug":"australia-criminalized-pro-life-activity-abortion-businesses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.liveaction.org\/news\/australia-criminalized-pro-life-activity-abortion-businesses\/","title":{"rendered":"AWFUL: All of Australia has now criminalized pro-life activity near abortion businesses"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Sidewalk counseling and all forms of peaceful protest outside of abortion facilities is now illegal in Western Australia. The <\/span>Public Health Amendment Bill 2021<\/span><\/a> passed the Labor-dominated Legislative Council on August 11, 2021.\u00a0Western Australia is the last state in that nation to pass such an ordinance. Every state and territory in Australia has now enacted similar legislation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The bill, also known as the \u201cSafe Access Zones\u201d bill, outlaws \u201cprohibited behaviour within a safe access zone,\u201d which is defined as the area \u201cwithin the boundary of premises at which abortions are provided\u201d and \u201cwithin 150 m[eters] outside the boundary.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cProhibited behaviour\u201d is broadly defined; according to the text of the bill, \u201c[A] person engages in prohibited behaviour if the person besets, harasses, intimidates, interferes with, threatens, hinders, obstructs or impedes a person accessing, attempting to access or leaving premises at which abortions are provided.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cProhibited behaviour\u201d is also defined as \u201ccommunicat[ing] by any means in relation to abortion in a manner that is [both] able to be seen or heard by a person accessing, attempting to access or leaving premises at which abortions are provided and reasonably likely to cause distress or anxiety.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c[I]nterfer[ing] with or imped[ing] a footpath, road or vehicle in relation to abortion … mak[ing] a recording by any means of another person accessing, attempting to access or leaving premises at which abortions are provided, without the other person\u2019s consent,\u201d are also included in the definition of \u201cprohibited behaviour.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Essentially, all <\/em>forms of pro-life witness outside of abortion facilities in Western Australia are now punishable by imprisonment for one year and a fine of $12,000. The ordinance <\/span>applies<\/span><\/a> 24 hours per day, seven days per week.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n