Independent think tank Women’s Forum Australia welcomed Opposition Leader Tony Abbott’s comments on abortion in the controversial Australian Women’s Weekly interview.
“I would like to see fewer abortions,” Mr Abbott said in the interview published yesterday.
Women’s Forum Australia Chairperson Katrina George said: “An estimated 1 in 4 pregnancies ends in abortion”, according to Anglican Media, Melbourne. “Tony Abbott’s view about abortion is in line with most of the Australian community. Research shows that between 64 %-73% of Australians believe that the rate of abortion is too high. Tony Abbott is simply stating publicly what most Australians believe privately.”
Ms George welcomed renewed public debate about abortion: “Research shows that for many women abortion is not about choice. Financial pressures, uncaring or violent relationships, unsupportive work places, schools and universities drive many women to the abortion clinic.
Australian women need better information and support to freely make decisions about their pregnancies. The recent abolition of the National Pregnancy Support Helpline was disappointing.
Women’s Forum Australia supports the new family-centred helpline due to be launched in July. But there’s an urgent need for access to independent and professionally trained pregnancy support counsellors who can give women real choices.”
Women's Forum Australia has a strong evidence-based approach to issues that have special impact on women. WFA believes that no woman should ever have to choose between her own welfare and that of her unborn child. Their focus is on social policy initiatives that offer women genuine choices and restore their freedom to be mothers. Their research paper, Women and Abortion: an evidence based review, brings together research on the reasons why women seek abortion, and the effects of abortion on their lives.
Go to their website to join Women's Forum Australia, or to get your copy of Women and Abortion.
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