Some women in the local area who have had abortions fear speaking publicly about the issue.
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It has become a hot topic in recent weeks after the Reproductive Healthcare Reform bill passed 59 votes to three in the NSW parliament's Legislative Assembly with some amendments, to decriminalise abortion.
If the upper house passes the bill, abortion will be decriminalised in NSW.
But the legislation has sparked heated debates.
The Armidale Express spoke to women who had terminated pregnancies who had a deep fear of confrontation. None of the women wanted to be identified for fear of conflict and retribution.
Answers to this survey are completely anonymous.
"If I identify myself, my property is listed, and people know where I live," one woman, said.
"I don't want visitors who disagree with what I said coming out here.
Another woman in her 50s said: "I really don't mind talking about my two abortions, but not in front of anyone. This is very private information. My choices are my choices, not for disclosure for other people to know about."
Two separate women from isolated farming towns had similar themes, saying they did not want visitors from strangers, who might know where they lived, protesting about their past choices.
"I have had an abortion, yes," another young woman said. "I don't mind telling people, but not in public. I live and work in town, can you imagine? But I do think it is important to talk about."
I do think it is important to talk about.
For these women an abortion was an individual choice, and not an easy one.
That the choice was rarely made in isolation, conversations with a partner, family, or friend was often included as decisions were made.
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A woman in her 70s commented that: "At this point, I don't agree with all the points being raised in the public but I do think that abortion should be decriminalised. It has been going on for a hundred years."
The central issues delaying the vote are the requirement, for two doctors, to sign off, or approved the process, and the weeks of gestation period being changed from 22 to 20 weeks. Women who are seeking abortions already receive mandatory counselling.