News

VICTORIAN women could have total power to choose whether to terminate a pregnancy under recommendations by the Victorian Law Reform Commission on decriminalising abortion.

The commission yesterday gave the Government three options for modernising abortion laws, after being asked to report on the issue. All three options would decriminalise abortion, which is now performed in Victoria under a common law ruling which says it is only legal if it protects the health of the woman.

The first option will give a woman's doctor the authority to determine whether an abortion is necessary because pregnancy posed a risk to the woman.

The second gives the woman herself the authority to make that determination, for an abortion up to 24 weeks gestation, with doctors to decide on late-term abortions.

The third would give a woman the power to choose an abortion at any stage of pregnancy.

While anti-abortionists blasted all three options as a "black day" for the state, women's rights advocates applauded the third model.

Medical ethicist Leslie Cannold said liberalising abortion laws would not lead to an increase in the number of terminations.

The sexual and reproductive healthcare organisation, Marie Stopes International, urged all Victorian MPs to support decriminalisation.

"A woman's right to choose the spacing and timing of her family has been internationally recognised as a human right since the 1960s yet in Victoria, abortion is still considered a crime," its chief Suzanne Dvorak said.

Premier John Brumby supports decriminalisation but said he expected debate to centre around the first two, less liberal, options.

Right-to-life campaigner Margaret Tighe said the Government had declared war on unborn children.

The Government will choose one option and MPs will have a conscience vote. AAP