'Lack of consultation'

NSW Finance Minister Damien Tudehope told ABC Radio Sydney this morning he did not support the abortion bill in its current form. However, he did not support his colleagues' attempts to move against the Premier.

"The bill suffered from a lack of consultation with the membership of the Liberal Party, suffered from a lack of consultation with the membership of the medical profession, suffered from a lack of consultation from the public at large," he said.

"If we had our time again I think we could have dealt with this in a much more consultative way which would not have produced nearly as much heat."



Minister Tudehope would not predict how today's debate on amendments would go, other than to say it could go "well into the night" and potentially tomorrow.

He said he hoped the amendments would be "considered in a clear headed way" to reach a consensus on the changes.