Abortion is one of those topics that refuse to go away. SMH reports a new push by three Labor MPs who are calling for the decriminalisation of abortion in NSW. As it is, the state bans abortion unless it threatens the health of the pregnant women. Much of the debate on abortion in NSW is also determined by common law.

In 1971, the Levine Ruling states that, 'an abortion would be lawful in that State if there was 'any economic, social or medical ground or reason' upon which a doctor could base an honest and reasonable belief that an abortion was required to avoid a 'serious danger to the pregnant woman's life or to her physical or mental health.' It also requires that the abortion be performed by a medical practitioner. In 1994, the Superclinics case re-interpreted and liberalised the Levine Ruling to allow abortion if it harms the health fo the women after the the child's birth (Access this link for a history of Abortion laws in Australia).

When Amnesty International defends the rights of women in opposing forced abortion, 'decriminalisation of abortion, to ensure women have access to health care when complications arise from abortion and to defend women's access to abortion, within reasonable gestational limits, when their health or human rights are in danger', it was criticised by the Vatican for promoting abortion rights.

Here is a cheatsheet by BBC on arguments for the legalisation of abortion. I favour the pro-abortionists view since it is ultimately the women who has to carry herself through the pregnancy (amongst many other reasons, of course).

I have tried to find details of the story on the innertubes, but for the life of me cannot find one.

Last night on ABC News, they had a story that the NSW schools cannot install the solar panels promised to be funded by the federal government because the NSW government will not allow the installation. The story (I think) was saying that the NSW government wanted a single point for all contracts.

Does anyone know any more about this? or can anyone find the story?