The man, who would not give his name or be photographed, was yesterday briefly standing vigil outside the Englehardt Street clinic in Albury, alongside members of Helpers of God’s Precious Infants.

However, he is not a member of the Catholic-based pro-life group.

Across the street was Rights to Privacy campaigner Liz Marmo, who had turned the man away on Wednesday night from the group’s medical privacy forum at Albury’s Commercial Club out of concern he would hijack the event.

The Border Mail witnessed the pair speaking outside the forum, with the man walking away after a few minutes.

Yesterday, he said he was “disappointed” he did not hear from the forum’s speakers, including NSW Greens MP Mehreen Faruqi, who plans to reintroduce an abortion law reform bill following the March election, and other women’s health professionals.

“I thought it was open to the public ... I really wanted to observe and listen,” he said.

“I was looking forward to hearing a really concise statement on what they hope to achieve ... all I’ve heard is demonising the right-to-life group.”

The man said he doubted hearing the discussion would have changed his view on “the rights of the child”, but that it would have given him a “clearer understanding” of their argument.

“I understand them wanting to protect their issue but it was also an example of intolerance,” he said.

Ms Marmo, who was outside the clinic yesterday to observe the Helpers’ members and offer solidarity to those using the clinic, said only two pro-life campaigners were refused entry as Rights to Privacy’s history with those people was that they “could cause trouble”.

“I’m sure there may have been other members of Helpers who came along and respected the conversation,” she said.

“If a representative of Helpers had approached our committee members about attending they would have been welcome.”

Fellow privacy campaigner Pieter Mourik said Helpers did have a representative attend, who sat alongside Father Peter Macleod-Miller and “seemed very interested in the meeting”.

“The forum was not a debate,” he said.

Prominent Helper member Anna Von Marburg declined to comment on the forum when approached outside the clinic yesterday.

“We’re not big political activists, we’re just here to offer women help,” she said.