ONE is crying tears of joy and the other heartbroken – the women at the centre of debate over protests at Albury’s abortion clinic have reacted in very different ways to NSW adopting safe access zones.
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Rights to Privacy Albury leader Liz Marmo stayed awake until 1.30am on Friday to see the safe access bill pass 61-18.
“I’m not an emotional person but I can’t stop crying,” Ms Marmo said.
“I’m overwhelmed that common sense finally prevailed, especially with NSW having such a conservative government.”
Ms Marmo said she would now end her campaign for reform which began four years ago.
Anna von Marburg, who has spent eight years conducting pro-life vigils outside the Englehardt Street rooms, was devastated the NSW parliament enacted a bill which end protests within 150 metres of fertility treatment premises.
“I’m heartbroken because they’ve made it a crime to offer mothers and unborn babies help,” Mrs von Marburg said.
The member of Helper’s of God’s Precious Infants said the new law was draconian and it was wrong to exclude babies from the debate.
“If it’s not about abortion then why are you not allowed to speak about within 150 metres of an abortion clinic?” Mrs von Marburg said.
“It’s doublespeak, it’s insane.
“I can’t believe how Orwellian all this is.”
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Albury mayor Kevin Mack also welcomed the outcome of the debate in the Legislative Assembly.
“It’s probably a long time coming, but it’s good to see the state government taking some responsibility,” Cr Mack said.
Deputy mayor Amanda Cohn had attempted unsuccessfully to have the council institute its own exclusion zone outside the clinic.
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