THE Greens are urging Albury Council to use by-laws to ban protests around the city’s abortion clinic.
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But the council’s lawyers warn a legal contest sparked by such a move could cost ratepayers up to $200,000.
Albury councillor Darren Cameron labelled the plan, instigated by NSW Greens MLC David Shoebridge, as “madness”.
“In order to achieve the objective that the Greens want, Albury City would have to literally put up signs banning praying,” he said.
Mr Shoebridge provided legal advice to council suggesting it would be feasible to form a protest exclusion zone within 150-metres of the Englehardt Street abortion clinic under Section 632 of the Local Government Act.
That area of the law has been used to regulate car parking and no alcohol zones.
“I urge Albury City Council to make use of this advice to provide an area of safety around clinics to allow women to gain access (to) sexual and reproductive health services without being intimidated,” Mr Shoebridge wrote.
Greens councillor Amanda Cohn has moved to have the idea voted on at next Monday’s council meeting.
The council’s law firm Kell Moore told its client it believed such a notice banning protests could be subject to a Federal or High court challenge which “has the potential to cost between $100,000 – $200,000”.
Cr Cameron feels mayor Kevin Mack holds the key to Cr Cohn’s move succeeding.
“If Kevin Mack...votes against this ridiculous motion then I believe the numbers will be such that the motion will fail,” he said.