The NSW Lower House, after a marathon debate, passed the bill which provides for 150 metre safe access zones around reproductive health clinics where abortions are performed.

The bill passed the Upper House in May.

The new laws make it illegal to harass, obstruct or record people without their consent within the 150 metre safe access zones around reproductive health clinics where abortions are performed.

Port Macquarie MP Leslie Williams had carriage of the bill in the Lower House at the invitation of the bill’s co-sponsors Labor MP Penny Sharpe and Nationals MP Trevor Khan.

“I was really excited to be able to have that opportunity because I do feel really passionate about it,” Mrs Williams said.

“I think this is just about common decency.

“I think everyone should expect when they go and access health facilities for medical services that they should be able to do so without being harassed, without being intimidated.

“People go to reproductive health clinics for a whole range of reasons, but obviously the focus has been around the fact that abortions are performed there, and that is exactly why we have these side-walk counsellors, as they call themselves, outside the clinics, intimidating women, making them feel like their decision they have made is not the right one.”

Mrs Williams said these side-walk counsellors had absolutely no idea about the history of the woman, about her background or about her situation.

The Port Macquarie MP said it was an interesting day in Parliament on Thursday.

“It is an issue that people feel very passionately about on both sides of the argument, so potentially it could have been quite a volatile environment but it was very, very respectful throughout the entire day,” she said.

Liberals and Nationals MP had a conscience vote on the issue.

Mrs Williams said the bill was overwhelmingly supported, 61 votes to 18, which spoke volumes about the views of the Parliament.

She said women in the Northern Territory, Tasmania, the ACT, and Victoria could go into a reproductive health clinic where there were no side-walk counsellors.

“My view is why shouldn’t women in NSW have those same rights?”

She said that was what the Parliament fixed.

Mrs Williams said she was very proud of the Parliament and very proud that they had been able to pass this bill which would really change the lives of women who, for whatever reasons, had to go to a reproductive health clinic.

Protesters who flout the rules face a custodial sentence as a maximum.

“I think people need to be given a very, very clear message that we will not tolerate this behaviour,” Mrs Williams said.

“It is abhorrent and it absolutely has to stop.”