Radhakrishnan PriyancaPRIYANCA RADHAKRISHNAN (Labour): Thank you Mr Speaker. To say that this particular legislation—or the abortion law reform—is out of date is an understatement. I think it was the honourable Ian McKelvie who mentioned that the last time this was discussed some weren't even born. I'm one of those. This discussion hasn't come up for longer than I've been alive and I think it's absolutely a moment in history that we're here discussing this and voting on it today. I too just want to add my voice to thank those who have been fighting for decades for us to reach the point that we're at today. Just last week I had the absolute honour of meeting Dame Margaret Sparrow and having a chat with her and I want to thank her for being a pioneer in pushing for the rights of women and particularly in terms of our sexual and reproductive health and rights. There are many individuals and organisations who've been part of this advocacy part of this movement—too many to name—but I just want to name a couple that I've been personally in contact with and that include the Abortion Law Reform Association of New Zealand and New Zealand Family Planning. I also want to thank and commend the Minister of Justice the Hon Andrew Little for his leadership alongside that of the Prime Minister on this issue and thank all those who have been part of getting us to where we are at today.At the heart of this debate though it's not about whether we think abortion is right or wrong it's not about the morals that surround this; as other speakers have said as well it's about the deception and the subterfuge that so many women—too many women—have had to be party to to get something that is a health issue. This issue of abortion should never be within the criminal framework. Women should not be criminalised for choosing to exert their autonomy over their own reproductive rights. It's our body and our choice and I will absolutely continue to stand on the side of supporting women to have that autonomy—autonomy that's actually been taken away from them for so long through the laws that we have.I just also want to touch on an issue that others have talked about. Other speakers have said today What's the problem? There is no real need to change this legislation because there are 13000-odd women who have actually had abortions." The issue is the stigma that women are subjected to. The issue is the time delay where women have spoken out and said that they've had to wait so long that it adds to the trauma and the emotional abuse as it were that they're put through as they have to wait. There are many who have had to then go through the surgical route rather than the less invasive medical abortions as well because of the delays that they've been subjected to. And that's what we've got to change. Apart from the fact that this is absolutely a human rights issue: women's rights are human rights. There are also about 200 women who have been denied abortions as well each year. I also just want to quickly touch on the fact that—and the Minister mentioned this—98 percent of abortions actually happen in the period up to 16 weeks. So the percentage that we're talking about for the number of abortions that happen after the 20-week period is actually very low. There is this misconception out there that if we were to change the abortion laws abortions are suddenly going to be on demand women are going to go out there fast and furious to get abortions. That's just absolutely not the case. That denies the fact that every woman I suspect—I believe—goes through a huge amount of thought a huge amount of trauma before they reach the point where they feel that choosing an abortion is right for them and I believe we must respect that. So as lawmakers here we're not here to talk about whether we think it's right or wrong but whether we actually support the right of women to choose what happens to their own bodies. There've been arguments against—that we shouldn't change the law because we should protect women. Frankly I find that patronising. People have said that there are no prosecutions so this is not an issue. It's absolutely an issue. It's an issue of rights and it's an issue of access. Very quickly I just want to say around safe zones that this is an issue that I've done a lot of work on. I was actually considering it as a member's bill before the Minister took it on as well. Just to clarify it's not about access; it's about preventing intimidation and harassment of women who are trying to access abortion facilities and I'd like to see where we get to in select committee on extending that."