Helpers of God's Precious Infants member Anna von Marburg believes Albury abortion clinic may not re-open after injury to doctor stops consultations

The claim by the Helpers of God’s Precious Infants member is based on the clinic’s indefinite closure due to its Melbourne operator Dr Kathy Lewis being on long-term leave due to an injury.

“As far as I’m concerned the clinic is closed, that’s great news, and it doesn’t look like opening again,” Mrs von Marburg said.

“To quote Frodo from Lord of the Rings, ‘we set out to save the shire and we have done that’.”

The Border Mail emailed Dr Lewis a series of questions through her East Melbourne fertility clinic about the fate of the Albury rooms which have attracted anti-abortion vigils for many years.

A clinic representative replied that Dr Lewis did “not want to validate Anna von Marburg’s position with a response to her claims”.

She said the clinic’s reopening was dependent on Dr Lewis recovering from her injury.

Mrs von Marburg’s comments come as the NSW Lower House this week moves to debate a bill which would outlaw protests within 150 metres of the state’s abortion clinic.

Member for Albury Greg Aplin has said he will vote in favour of the exclusion zones, based on overwhelming support for the no-go areas from his electorate.

Mrs von Marburg said Mr Aplin had ignored Border Mail online polls that showed support for the right to protest.

“It seems when people are allowed to vote anonymously and not have their livelihood threatened by identifying with a particular issue they vote in favour of freedom of speech,” she said.

Mr Aplin’s Riverina colleagues the Liberal Daryl Maguire (Wagga) and National Austin Evans (Murray) have different approaches to the exclusion zones vote.

Mr Maguire will wait until the debate unfolds to determine his position, while Mr Evans favours a protest ban.

“I think it’s a reasonable thing in that particular situation to give a little bit of privacy to women,” Mr Evans said.