Crimes Legislation Amendment (Loss of Foetus) Bill 2021
Zoe’s Law is here at last
November 11, 2021
Mrs Brodie Donegan and her unborn daughter Zoe was the victim of a fatal motor vehicle accident on Christmas Eve 2009. Zoe lost her life.
On the 6th of August 2019 I introduced Zoe’s Law, the intention was to prohibit conduct that causes serious harm to or the destruction of an unborn child. Most importantly, my Bill recognises the death of an unborn child as a result of a fatal motor vehicle accident as an additional offence to the damage or death of the Mother.
I am pleased that the State Government has now finally made a start at recognising the loss of unborn life but more must be done. The Loss of Foetus Bill moved by the Hon Mark Speakman yesterday does the following:
(a) the Crimes Act 1900, to create offences in relation to causing the loss of a foetus of a pregnant woman
(b) the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999, to extend provisions relating to the preparation and consideration of victim impact statements to include statements prepared by an immediate family member of the primary victim of an offence relating to the loss of the primary victim’s foetus about the impact of that loss,
(c) the Criminal Procedure Act 1986, to provide that stating the name of a foetus does not affect an indictment for an offence under the Crimes Act 1900 relating to the destruction or loss of the foetus,
(d) the Motor Accident Injuries Act 2017, to provide for the payment of statutory benefits for reasonable funeral expenses following the loss of a foetus of a pregnant woman that results from a motor accident.
I will support this Bill and congratulate Premier Perrottet for quickly acting on this important issue of life and death.
Yours faithfully,
Rev Hon Fred Nile MLC
CDP Parliamentary Leader
Media enquiries – 02 9230 2478
