Fed: Abbott misrepresenting abortion views: Stott-Despoja

AAP General News (Australia)
08-08-2004
Fed: Abbott misrepresenting abortion views: Stott-Despoja

CANBERRA, Aug 8 AAP - Health Minister Tony Abbott was misrepresenting the views of
some feminists on abortion, Australian Democrats status of women spokeswoman Natasha Stott
Despoja said today.

Mr Abbott, an opponent of abortion, has welcomed comments made last month by leading
feminists Eva Cox and Wendy McCarthy that there should be a public debate about late-term
abortions.

Ms McCarthy said she believed the 20-week restriction imposed on most abortions was
still appropriate and Ms Cox has since said she would not support legislative limits on
the procedures.

Mr Abbott today said a debate about abortion had begun and it was interesting that
people who were advocates of choice two decades ago were now having second thoughts.

Senator Stott-Despoja today criticised Mr Abbott's opposition to abortion and said
he had misrepresented Ms Cox and Ms McCarthy's views.

"The health minister is unnecessarily interfering, indeed meddling in the reproductive
rights of Australian women," she said.

"He has consistently misrepresented the views of older Australian feminists on the
issue of abortion and has done so again today."

Senator Stott Despoja said she was not sure if she would watch the British documentary
My Foetus which airs on ABC television tonight and features footage of an abortion.

"I have seen quite a large proportion of the documentary and I have no qualms about
the ABC presenting such a program without fear or favour," she said.

Senator Stott Despoja said she believed the ABC had partially met her request that
details of Australian state and territory abortion laws be broadcast before the documentary.

The ABC would also screen details of the differences between Australian and British
abortion laws, she said.

"I just don't want people to get the wrong impression that late-term abortions are
happening regularly, when that's just not the case in Australia," she said.

Senator Stott Despoja said 95 per cent of abortions in Australia occurred during the
first trimester of pregnancy.

AAP pj/cdh

KEYWORD: ABORTION DEMOCRATS

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