Independent Sydney MP Alex Greenwich finally introduced his private member's bill to parliament on Thursday and urged his colleagues to finally remove abortion from the state's criminal code.

For many casual observers, the biggest surprise in all of this might be the fact that abortion remains a crime in the first place.

We would like to believe we live in a modern society where a woman's rights over her body would be protected by law. But apparently not.

In introducing his bill, Mr Greenwich said that under the present laws, the threat of conviction could "create fear and stigma for women wanting an abortion and reluctance by health practitioners to provide services".

He is seeking to bring NSW legislation in line with nearly every other Australian state and territory, including the ACT, Victoria, Western Australia, Tasmania, the Northern Territory and Queensland.

It beggars belief that we could be lagging so far behind on such an issue, but this debate has always terrified NSW MPs.

And while the signs are bright that the time for change might have finally arrived, there is still a cohort of conservative MPs seeking to derail that momentum.

Religion inevitably plays a role in the debate but at a time when church attendances (overall) are continuing to fall, religion can no longer be the deciding factor.

Of course, churches are entitled to have a view and church leaders have every right to advise their congregations on what they believe to be the correct path.

But the church is only one view in this debate and its position should not be given any more weight in the parliament's decision-making than other lobbying voice.

If, as the parliament has decided, this is to be a issue of conscience, then the parliament must seek to deliver a result that aligns with the conscience of most voters.

And consistent polling has shown most people in the state support the decriminalisation of abortion and want to see risks for both women and their attending medical professionals removed.

Many MPs, including Bathurst MP Paul Toole, say they remain undecided about the bill but for them the way forward should be simple. If they have no strong conviction either way, then they surely have no choice but to support their electorates.