The passing of Victoria’s Abortion Law Reform Bill 2008 last Friday, a ‘Black Friday’ indeed, is a matter for deep regret, but now the challenge before our politicians is to act to provide REAL support for women, the Australian Christian Lobby said today.

Rob Ward, State Director of the Australian Christian Lobby, today called on the Victorian Government to follow through on support services for women facing an unplanned pregnancy. 

“They have declared themselves to be ‘pro-choice’ and supposedly aimed at helping women,” Mr Ward said. “Now let us see them prove that ‘pro-choice’ does not just translate as ‘pro-abortion’ and actually provide women with the support they need to be able to make genuine choices.”

Mr Ward said that, in the turbulent passage of this bill though both houses, calls were made for truly independent counselling to be made available.

“Will the Government now work to ensure these services are widely available and are genuinely independent of the abortion provider? Anything less is a fraud,” he said.

“Better information on the number of abortions and an adverse events register were key issues raised. Will the Government now act to ensure that abortion, no longer a criminal issue, will be governed in the same way as other serious medical procedures? 

“It is easier to find how many tonsillectomies went wrong than to discover how many abortions led to complications. They say it is a ‘health issue’, but have failed to give it the same attention as other health issues.”

Mr Ward said that the Government indicated during parliamentary debate in the Upper House that guidelines would be developed for Medical Boards in regard to doctors who might be accused of not providing an effective abortion referral. “Will the Government defer the enacting of this legislation until guidelines are developed and ensure that ALL stakeholders are involved in their development?” he asked.

Mr Ward said that for many Victorians, this issue is not over. “The depth of opposition to this bill from a range of quarters highlights the deep public concern about Victoria’s high abortion rate – something likely to increase following the passing of this bill.

“While ever thousands of innocent lives are lost and women are hurt, the fight for justice will go on. Changing the law does not make a wrong ‘right’.”