For those of us with a uterus having autonomy over our bodies and the right to decide not to be pregnant is part of our right as humans. We should all be able to access abortions via the public health system covered by Medicare.

We shouldn't have to travel hundreds of kilometres and pay hundreds of dollars. We should have the right to choose what happens to our bodies.

If you are claiming to be "Right to Life" why not be concerned about the rights of the pregnant person? Why not support the person's right to manage their own life, make informed choices, decide what is best for their family? Why are we only legislating against bodies with a uterus?

It is possible to think about it in two different ways at the same time. You can think: I don't think it is ok for me, AND it should be easy and safe for other people to access.

If you don't think you could or would want to ever have an abortion then you don't have to, but please don't let stand in the way of other people's choices. We need to decriminalise abortion so it remains safe and accessible for all.

Cath Young, Bellingen

As a nation with shocking domestic violence statistics it's not a surprise that the themes of 'power and control' that exist within violent spousal relationships are also reflected by our Prime Ministers completely anti-female response to a critical healthcare concern; abortion.

Earlier this year, Scomo stated that the debate is not 'good for our country' and further said publicly funding abortion was a "very controversial and sensitive issue". The reproductive rights of women are only 'controversial' because of the subtle but prevailing lack of respect for women in today's society.

Such commentators, along with the more extreme argument of "pro-life" protesters, do not simply 'have a right to their opinion'. Debate is nuanced but here 'opinion' without a doubt means advocating to oppress the inalienable rights of women to safe affordable, accessible reproductive healthcare, including abortions.

And not abortions just because someone has experienced rape, or cannot afford a child. Because women should never have to 'justify' their right to body autonomy. This is a biological luxury afforded to men like Scott Morrison. Men can walk away from unwanted pregnancy, women cannot.

It's one thing to be anti-abortion in your own life, a completely valid, personal and private choice. It's quite another to weaponise moral belief to violate women through petitioning for anti-abortion legislation.

A cluster of cells should not trump inherent UN human rights of women. It is interesting that this movement is labelled 'pro-life' because you really have to wonder whose life? Certainly not the life of the woman forced to carry an unwanted pregnancy and not the countless lives of neglected and abused children in our under-resourced child protection system.

Violations to the rights of women are so deeply ingrained in our social and political fabric that it is nothing new for us. Despite its prevalence that doesn't make it any less hurtful and offensive.

Australian women don't need anymore intellectual grandstanding about the morality of abortion. We need leaders who have the courage to speak out and act against beliefs and legislation that are oppressive to women.

Eliza Zanuso, Bellingen

I am writing in support of the decriminalisation bill that is about to be debated in the NSW senate. Like the majority of women of my generation, I am staunchly pro-choice and totally fail to understand how women's bodies are still being policed in this way. Women choose to have abortions for many reasons and none of them are anybody's business but their own.

It appears we are going further down an ultra-conservative rabbit hole whereby laws are being debated and passed, usually by men, about what women can and cannot do with their bodies. This issue is about autonomy, but it is also about equity and equality. Women from lower socioeconomic backgrounds are those who most suffer most when denied access to safe abortions. And it is these women who most need access when required as unwanted children are expensive. The cost of even basic living is a huge problem, with our social welfare system under resourced and underfunded with ever-increasing demands being placed on it.

Some may argue that these laws actually don't really mean anything anyway, that women have been able to access abortion in NSW without criminalisation for many years. But it is extremely important to have a bill legislated to state that abortion is legal. This is not a criminal act and that needs to be reflected in our law. May we be able to move forward and not reflect how this issue is being played out like some bad, dystopian nightmare in the USA.

J Dardel, Bellingen