Region's politicians support bill to decriminalise abortions

The bill has been co-sponsored by more politicians than any piece of legislation in the history of the NSW Parliament, from all sides of the political divide.

Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall, Barwon MP Roy Butler and Tamworth MLC Trevor Khan have all publicly backed the bill.

Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson said he "hadn't seen the bill as of yet", but would "carefully consider my position, as well as discussing it with my electorate".

Mr Khan was one of the 15 co-sponsors of the bill. He said despite the Nationals conservative leaning, the reaction from his colleagues was "pleasantly surprising".

"It appears to be an issue that people had a view on, but no mechanism available to put it in to action, so it's pleasing to be able to provide them with that option," Mr Khan said.

"It's always important with social issues like this to take the politics out of it and that's been my objective from the start."

Mr Butler supports the bill, which "isn't a radical proposal" and had many benefits.

"It modernises a law, removes the stigma of a difficult decision and clears up legal liabilities for doctors," the Shooters MP said.

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"International data shows regulating this as a medical procedure actually leads to lower rates of termination because people have more contact with medical professionals."

Mr Khan also pointed out abortion law reform reports in Queensland and Victoria showed regulation didn't lead to an increased rate of terminations.

While such a bill may have struggled to get support in the conservative electorate of Barwon "20 or 30 years ago", Mr Butler said that was no longer the case.

"People in the city often don't give enough credit to how open and broad minded people are in the bush," he said.

"Times change and our community expect us to move with the times.

"It might have been acceptable to fall under the Crimes Act in 1900 when it was put there, but in 2019, it should be a regulated medical process."

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Mr Marshall said the closest abortion clinic to his electorate is in Coffs Harbour or Newcastle, forcing his constituents to drive three or more hours to access the medical procedure.

"[Reform is] not about dramatically making something legal that's illegal; it's about providing a much better and much safer process for those terminations to be undertaken," Mr Marshall said.

"And that's why I'm supporting the bill, because I'm a bush MP and and I don't want women that have to terminate a pregnancy to have to travel to Coffs Harbour or Newcastle or Tweed Heads to do that because that's dangerous for them and it means they abort a pregnancy later.

"If they're going to do it I want them to be able to do it much more safely and sooner." The bill is expected to be introduced to the Lower House on Thursday and debated the following week.