ANTI-abortion advocate Roland von Marburg says he and the Helpers of God’s Precious Infants would take Albury Council to court if a protest exclusion zone was created in Englehardt Street.
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His vow came as Albury councillor John Stuchbery said they can “come and pray in my driveway if they want”.
Greens councillor and deputy mayor Amanda Cohn is putting a notice of motion to next Monday’s council meeting calling for a “safe access zone” to be established in Englehardt Street, home to Albury’s abortion clinic.
She wants council staff to prepare a notice under Section 632 of the Local Government Act by February 28.
Cr Stuchbery and councillors David Thurley and Murray King told The Border Mail they would be supporting Cr Cohn’s move.
Councillors Darren Cameron, Graham Docksey and Henk van de Ven will oppose the motion.
Mayor Kevin Mack and councillor Alice Glachan did not return The Border Mail’s calls.
Cr Cohn said the council had the “opportunity to show leadership on an issue that’s been plaguing this community for years”.
“The Albury community has told me loud and clear they want to see an end to this intimidation of women,” she said.
But Dr von Marburg said he and HOGPI would “absolutely” challenge an exclusion zone if it was applied.
“It won’t stand up to a constitutional challenge and stupid laws like that are bound to be challenged,” he said.
“Amanda Cohn and the Greens by pursuing this madness, as it’s been described, are using the ratepayers of Albury as a cash cow for their political agenda.
“The community should be asking for Amanda Cohn and anybody else that supports this at council to resign.”
Cr Cohn said it was “ludicrous” to suggest someone should resign for representing a significant proportion of the community.
Cr Stuchbery said: “I absolutely think there should be an exclusion zone around Englehardt Street and I think the exclusion zone should include praying.”
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