FINALLY: VIC Abortion Clinic Safe-Zones Greenlit, Protesters Must Now GTFO

Any medical clinic that offers an abortion will now have a 150-meter safe access zone around it. It is also now an offence to both filming people without consent or blocking access to footpaths, roads, and vehicles within the safe zone.

The bill, which was introduced by Sex Party MP Fiona Patten but adopted by the Labor government, passed in the upper house by 31 votes to eight after 12 hours of debate in the wee hours of Friday morning, after two nights of filibustering by opponents, and after anti-abortionists were still going with questions at 3:30am in the morning on a bill that had effectively passed. (Are you guys okay, VIC upper house?)

“Women have a right to medical privacy and the right to access a legal health service without harassment or intimidation,” said VIC Health Minister Jill Hennessy.

“This is a landmark day for women and health professionals who provide reproductive health services,” said Jenny Ejlak, President of Reproductive Choice Australian.

The Public Health and Wellbeing Amendment (Safe Access Zones) Bill 2015 comes in just seven years after abortion was decriminalised in Victoria, 14 years since a security guard was murdered outside an abortion clinic, and over 40 years after the first openly operating abortion clinic was set up in Melbourne. The laws will come into affect 1 July 2016.

Dozens of campaigners and politicians are right now tweeting their support:

Well done, Vic! Women’s rights to dignity, safety & medical privacy are law. Next stop NSW. #safeaccesszones #end12 https://t.co/HbNZD94cky

— Mehreen Faruqi (@MehreenFaruqi) November 26, 2015

We’ll have #safeaccesszones in Victoria by 1 July 2016! Well done to everyone on a huge achievement after a long process on #springst

— Harriet Shing (@ShingvWorld) November 26, 2015

#safeaccesszones law passes #springst. Thanks to all colleagues who supported it.

— Jenny Mikakos MP (@JennyMikakos) November 26, 2015

Respecting the rights of women to medical privacy & dignity is not “unaustralian”. It’s necessary and required. #safeaccesszones

— Jill Hennessy MP (@JillHennessyMP) November 26, 2015

Freedom of belief is not outlawed in #safeaccesszones bill. Harassment &intimidation of people using lawful medical services is.

— Jill Hennessy MP (@JillHennessyMP) November 26, 2015

So to the anti-abortion campaigners who claimed that these laws were an attack on their right to free speech, we say: suck MF eggs. Some info for ya – free speech? Gives you the right to debate without persecution of the law, NOT the right to be a dick with a placard.

Image: Brendan Hoffman via Getty.