Events and Opportunities

The Lower House of the Parliament of Tasmania has passed an abortion Bill that is even more extreme than that in Victoria (I didn’t think that was even possible!) with 13 voting in favour and 11 opposed.
All of the ten Liberals opposed the Bill, all of the five Greens supported it and all but one (of 10) ALP members supported it - Michael Polley courageously crossed the floor to vote against it.

There were great moments throughout the debate. Will Hodgman (Leader of the Opposition) spoke strongly about how he could not ignore the unborn child. Jacquie Petrusma (Liberal Party) talked about her own struggles and triumphs during challenging years of young and older motherhood, about the research showing negative psychological and physical risks of abortion and about the development of life in the womb. Mark Shelton (Liberal party) spoke of his adoration for his grandson, Evan, with Down Syndrome and the relief that his daughter had chosen life for him. Michael Ferguson (Liberal), amongst other things talked about the tactics used by supporters of the Bill and the misleading nature of the Bill. He also critiqued the Bill for the lack of due process and public consultation, a complaint made by many.

There were some speakers in support of the Bill that were just so hard to listen to - their misinformation so passionately repeated again and again. Numerous times they referred to difficult circumstances that drive women to abort (but no mention of addressing those social and economic needs – only abortion!),  and the “empowerment of women gaining autonomy over their reproductive choices”....by aborting their babies??!! Among the supporters of the Bill, there was almost no mention of the baby, for whom abortion is fatal. If you can bear to watch those parts of the debate, the footage will be available on our website shortly.

The Institute of Public Affairs has weighed in on the debate, saying that ""Proposed changes contained in the Reproductive Health (Access to Terminations) Bill 2013 threaten freedom of speech and freedom of conscience". They also stated that "Singling out particular premises for special treatment undermines equality before the law. This bill does not make it illegal to distribute material outside supermarkets or sports grounds, for instance. The Tasmanian government should not ban protests, whether they occur outside an abortion clinic or a timber mill".

Please act - The Bill also needs to be passed by the Upper House of Tasmania. Please contact the members of the Upper House and respectfully ask them not to support the Bill, and your reasons why.

rosemary.armitage@parliament.tas.gov.au ; ivan.dean@parliament.tas.gov.au ; craig.farrell@parliament.tas.gov.au ; kerry.finch@parliament.tas.gov.au ; ruth.forrest@parliament.tas.gov.au; Michael.gaffney@parliament.tas.gov.au ; Vanessa.goodwin@parliament.tas.gov.au ; greg.hall@parliament.tas.gov.au ; paul.harriss@parliament.tas.gov.au ; tony.mulder@parliament.tas.gov.au ; tania.rattray@parliament.tas.gov.au ; sue.smith@parliament.tas.gov.au ; adriana.taylor@parliament.tas.gov.au ; hobart@parliament.tas.gov.au ; jim.wilkinson@parliament.tas.gov.au 

 

Please also shoot off a quick email to those who stood for life in Tasmanian Parliament on Tuesday night and thank them for voting against the Bill.

will.hodgman@parliament.tas.gov.au
jeremy.rockliff@parliament.tas.gov.au
michael.polley@parliament.tas.gov.au
elise.archer@parliament.tas.gov.au
peter.gutwein@parliament.tas.gov.au
rene.hidding@parliament.tas.gov.au
jacquie.petrusma@parliament.tas.gov.au
mark.shelton@parliament.tas.gov.au
adam.brooks@parliament.tas.gov.au
matthew.groom@parliament.tas.gov.au
michael.ferguson@parliament.tas.gov.au

More information to come.

 

Contributed by  Denise M Cameron for Pro Life Victoria (Inc)

It has happened again...last time it was Abortion Provider Jo Wainer, before that it was Abortion Advocate Beatrice Faust ..and before that Wendy McCarthy of another abortion lobby, the Women's Electoral Lobby. Meantime, nominations of advocates for the rights of unborn children are rejected.

Below is the text of a letter I had published in Melbourne's Age newspaper on June 17 which may help you frame your protest at this outrage. We did so last time ...but we must not give up. If ever there was a time to remember Edmund Burke's words “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men and women to do nothing”, it is now.

"Surely it is an insult to the Queen that those responsible for recommendations for her Birthday Honours would include so many Australians who would

prefer to see their fellow Australians dead? Former premier Joan Kirner was honoured for founding Emily's List which pursued and succeeded in the 2008 passage of the most pitiless abortion legislation in the world. Dr Pieter Mourik was active locally in promoting the legislation and National Party MP Jeanette Powell disappointed her conservative constituents by voting for it. Professor Peter Singer is “infamous” for suggesting infanticide might be a good way to go.

Abortion Provider Jo Wainer got a gong last time. Overseeing all these these recommendations is Governor Quentin Bryce with her own record of pro abortion activism. Amongst all those listed is there one genuine “human rights”, “social justice” activist? Someone who has defended unborn children, Australia' s most vulnerable citizens, by helping their mothers choose life, not death for them?

These are the words of an email I received yesterday from an unknown supporter demonstrating we do have friends out there who appreciate our efforts: “ I’m writing to congratulate you on your letter published in the Sunday Age June 17th. It is about time that the truth was told about such people as our former Premier Joan Kirner, Dr Pieter Mourik, Jeanette Powell, Peter Singer and Quentin Bryce. None of these is a supporter of human rights for so long as they continue to support inhumane abortion legislation. Well done.”

 

Please write to The Australian Honours Secretariat

Government House Canberra ACT 2600

Email: honours@gg.gov.au

Facsimile: (02)6283 3620

Telephone : (02) 6283 3600

 

Please send copies to:

The Governor General Quentin Bryce

at Government House Yarralumla, ACT 2600

 

Also:  H.M. The Queen at Buckingham Palace, London.

 

 

Teresa Martin, President of Cherish Life Qld, has appealed for supporters to write and object to Graham Preston's jail sentence. Graham has been jailed for refusing to pay fines imposed for non-violently blocking the doorway of abortion clinics in Brisbane.

"Many of you may know that Graham Preston is currently serving time for not paying accumulated fines imposed on him due to his direct action. It seems that Graham is being made an example of and the question has to be asked, would any other person be sent to jail for non-payment of $8000 of fines?  Has any other person been so punished in this way for a non-violent action ie non-payment?  If not, then why is Graham being punished in this way?  Note that we are not endorsing non-payment of fines, nor that anyone should break the law nor disobey a police officer, merely that it seems unfair that he should go to jail when there is over $1million in outstanding fines, some of which would be over the $8000 mark.   Whether you agree or disagree with Graham’s actions, we are encouraging you to write respectfully to the Attorney General & Minister for Justice Jarrod Bleijie (pronounced Bley-ee) and pose those questions and make those points.  It is important that pro-lifers support each other.

Contact details:
Hon Jarrod Bleijie
PO Box 1200
BUDDINA  Q  4575
Email:  kawana@parliament.qld.gov.au
Ph:    07 5478 1189
Fax:    07 5478 1815

Or go to the website and fill in the form.

 Emily's List holds up abortion as a trophy of women's reproductive rights, espouses the rhetoric of "choice" and poses as an organisation fighting for equality of women. At first glance, why wouldn't any company jump at the opportunity to sponsor them? 
If, however, you look a little more closely, you may just see something more sinister.  
It was Emily List's, Candy Broad,  that initially tabled an abortion Bill that would legalise abortion up until birth - but it was put aside until after a federal election.
Emily List's Maxine Morand then retabled it.
It was her Emily's List colleagues, Joan Kirner, Jacinta Allan (Bendigo East) and others that argued passionately in support of the Bill.
When challenged on her support of the legislation, during the last Victorian election, Ms Allan refused to comment. Her constituents flatly refused to believe that she would have supported abortion up until birth. With the protection of her local Bendigo newspaper, she remains unaccountable.

During the abortion debate in Parliament, images of aborted babies were viewed. Abortion survivor, Gianna Jessen, gave her amazing story of surviving an abortion and asked "Where were my rights as a female?" But Emily's List MPs remained determined.
Peter Kavanagh, former Member of the Democratic Labour Party, described how he was told by some ALP MPs that although they did not want to support the Bill, they were told (by the ALP) that they would not be endorsed for reselection if they did not - so much for a conscience vote!

Former ALP Member for Bendigo West, Bob Cameron, voted against the Bill. He has since been replaced by Emily List's Maree Edwards. 

The legislation was passed and numerous amendments were put forward - some 60, in fact. It was the rejection of these amendments that gives us a look into what Emily's List really stands for.

Given they had succeeded in legalising abortion in Victoria, one would think that a political organisation that champions the rights of women would have supported the following amendments: Parental consent for girls under 18 years (parental consent is required for piercings); mandatory reporting of suspected sexual abuse; support/counselling for women considering abortion; a "cooling off period" for women considering late term abortion.  But no - each Emily's List Member of Parliament voted each of these amendments down.

Emily Listers also opposed: The banning of partial birth abortions (banned in the U.S); provision of medical care for aborted babies born alive; anaesthetic for babies aborted late term; and limitting abortion availability to 20 or 24 weeks (babies can survive outside the womb at this stage). 

In espousing to be "pro choice", there is no evidence of Emily's List having any interest in any "choice" other than abortion. Where do they show such determination and passion for adoption?  Are they fighting to have red tape surrounding adoption cut?
Where are they lobbying for pregnancy support centres? Parenting classes?
It is blaringly obvious that Emily's List is "pro choice" alright...as long as that "choice" is abortion!

The champagne flowed for those Emily Listers who had secured their ultimate "trophy", but for the women, families and babies of Victoria and Australia, it was a very sad day. Legal protection for the unborn and also for women had been stripped.
The following businesses and organisations sponsor Emily's List - the first two listed are supporting one of their upcoming events. Please make contact with them. If you do business with them and your concerns are brushed aside, please consider changing to another business provider.

http://mebank.com.au/

http://womeninsuper.com.au/members/

http://www.justitia.com.au/main.html

http://www.asu.asn.au/

http://www.mauriceblackburn.com.au/

What do you think?
Do you believe that...
1) Babies in the womb deserve protection?
2) Women should be offered support / counselling when considering an abortion?
3) Parental consent should be required for a teenager seeking an abortion (as with piercings)?
4) Abortion up until birth should be banned?
5) Babies born alive (after failed abortions) should be provided with medical care?
6) Suspected sexual abuse of minors seeking abortions should be reported?
7) Partial birth abortions (banned in the U.S) should be banned in Victoria?
8) There should be a "cooling off" period for women considering late term abortion?
9) Abortion should be unthinkable or at least rare?

You might be surprised to learn that all of the Greens, many of the ALP and some Liberal MPs (including the current Vic Premier, Ted Bailleu) rejected each of the amendments included in the questions above (questions 2 -8).

Peter Kavanagh, former DLP MP was in Parliament when this abortion bill was passed. Hear his description here, along with comments from Melissa Ohden

Members of the current Victorian Government have indicated that they are waiting to hear from the public, before they can act to repeal this law. To motivate Victorian MPs we must run a strong and constant campaign.
Please write to them and ask that they repeal the abortion law of 2008 and reinstate protection for the unborn and their mothers. 
 If you are part of a mother's group, men's shed night, youth group, Church, social club or family... then why not organise a letter writing hour? If you can,please write or email numerous times.
What are we waiting for?!!

Vic Premier -Ted Bailleu: 
Office of the Premier
1 Treasury Place
GPO Box 4912V V
Melbourne, Victoria
Australia, 3002

Phone: (03) 9651 5000
TTY (for the hearing impaired only): (03) 9682 4864
Email contact form: http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/contact.html 

Leader of the National Party - Peter Ryan:
54B Cunninghame Street SALE 3850.
P.O. Box 145,
SALE 3850.

Phone: (03) 5144 1987
Fax: (03) 5144 7086
Email contact form: http://www.peterryan.com.au/contact-us
 

Attorney General - Robert Clark:
24 Rutland Road, BOX HILL Vic 3128.
Phone: (03) 9898 6606
Fax: (03) 9890 7180.
Email: robert.clark@parliament.vic.gov.au 

If you live in Victoria, please send a message, phone or visit your local MP.

Please contact the Upper House Members in your region.

Related Article .

 

 

 

Rally for Life — Saturday 12 February 2011 .
... It's Crunch Time

This 2011 Rally For Life is more important than ever, as the pro-abortion industry lobbyists make yet another push for decriminalisation of abortion while the current EMILY's List member, Anna Bligh, is still premier of Queensland.

Even though the recent poll showed there is no concensus of opinion to legalise abortion in Queensland, pressure is being brought to bear by the noisy minority of the pro-abortion lobby.  They will continue to pressure pro-abortion politicians to put forward a private member's bill before the current premier's term has ended.

Speakers this year include Archbishop John Bathersby DD of the Brisbane Catholic Archdiocese, and Mrs Maria Bozikis, wife of Rev Fr Anastasios Bozikis of the Greek Orthodox Church.  You will be stunned to hear the pressure brought to bear on Mrs Bozikis by medical personnel!  Want to know why?  Come to the Rally For Life and find out.

When and Where .
When: Saturday 12th February 2011. Pre-rally entertainment starts at 1:15pm with the main event starting at 2:00pm.  Estimated finish time is 4:00pm.

A donation will be taken to cover the costs of running this event, and to make it even bigger and better next year.

Where: Queens Park, cnr William, Elizabeth & George Sts, in the Brisbane CBD.  (Click for interactive Google Map)

Public transport is recommended, but car parking is available underneath Queens Park and in other parts of the city

Why should you attend? Because the unborn are depending on YOU to protect them.
We do not want to end up with babies being aborted up to the day of birth — as is now legal in Victoria. We do not want our hospitals to be forced to do abortions, traumatising their staff and clogging up our already over-burdened health system. Abortion harms women, destroys babies and emasculates men.

Where: Queens Park, cnr William, Elizabeth & George Sts, Brisbane CBD

What to bring: Your family and friends, hat, water, sunscreen, chair, rug, umbrella.

NOTE: Expected finish time 4pm.  Only official placards allowed

It’s now only 2 months to the Victorian state election on November 27, and Life Vote is gearing up for this important campaign. KEEP NOVEMBER 27 FREE.

Life Vote helps sponsor the highly successful Life Dinner and we wish to thank all those who attended and supported the evening.

Since then there have been highly successful public meetings with US abortion survivor, Melissa Odhen, and prayer breakfasts with ministers of religion and supporters to get our message out  to church congregations.

Over 40,000 of the Life Vote 'Lady Leaflet’ have been distributed to church and community groups. Keep up the good work.

WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE
1. Visit your ministers of religion and ask them to inform their congregations. You can obtain copies of the Life Vote Lady Leaflet by calling Gabrielle Walsh at 03 9816 0800, or email: gwalsh@family.org.au
2. Please inform friends and family about the Victorian decriminalisation of abortion. You can email the attached electronic copy of the Lady Leaflet or put it on your social networking page.
3. Organise a polling booth in your electorate. Ask family and friends to do 2-3 hrs handing out how to vote cards for pro-life candidates on November 27. Call Gabrielle Walsh at 03 9816 0800, or email: gwalsh@family.org.au

Life Vote stands for: support, counselling and information on the medical and psychological risks of abortion; protection for young pregnant girls; banning late-term and partial-birth abortions; and respecting the conscience of healthcare workers.

Alerting all pro lifers wanting to help rid the Victorian Parliament of anti life legislators!

Pro lifers are urged to attend one of the most important meetings the Victorian pro life movement will ever hold. The Meeting is being held to plan the forthcoming Victorian State Election Campaign Strategy. All prolifers know just how vital it is to demonstrate our revulsion for the Brumby Labor Government's 2008 Abortion Law Reform Act. As a result of this pitiless legislation NO UNBORN CHILD IS SAFE IN THIS STATE.

The Meeting will be held at 7 p.m. this coming Friday evening, at the Right to Life Australia Headquarters, 45 Nicholson Street, East Brunswick, Melbourne (MELWAYS 30 A10 or Tram number 96).

An RSVP to 03 9387 2182 would help ensure there is room for everyone to be seated.

We look forward to seeing you all this coming Friday evening!

THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT MEETING. IT WILL PROVIDE MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTRIBUTE THEIR IDEAS, TO HAVE CONCERNS ADDRESSED AND TO BECOME INVOLVED IN THIS ALL IMPORTANT ELECTION.

(This notice provided by Pro Life Victoria.)

An action-alert from Pro-Life Victoria

Listed amongst the many selfless voluntary community workers and leaders in yesterday's Queens Birthday Honours was long term pro abortion activist and abortion provider Jo Wainer. This is a cynical attack on the sanctity of human life ethic. It is a deep insult to those of Her Majesty's subjects who adhere to and have devoted their lives to the preservation of this ethic. And it demeans the dedication and achievements of the worthier recipients.

This insult cannot be allowed to go unchallenged! We need to ask the Queen to strip Jo Wainer of this honour.

It is unlikely Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 11 would know the background of the 400 odd Australians upon whom she was bestowing her honours. BUT  SHE MUST NOW BE MADE AWARE OF THE INSULT AND MISCHIEF MAKING OF THOSE ADVISING HER. The honour was bestowed for "Service to the community as an academic and researcher in the area of reproductive health rights and through leadership roles promoting women in medicine ... in particular rural areas." She is described as an "Abortion law reform campaigner since 1969, member of the team which secured repeal of the Victorian abortion laws in 2008."

PLEASE WRITE NOW TO:

HM Queen Elizabeth II c/- Buckingham Palace London protesting this mischief. She is a Constitutional Monarch and as such is above politics. Victoria's abortion law was highly political and very divisive. The Monarch is supposed to unite, not divide her subjects. She has been badly advised by her Australian representatives, perhaps Australia's Governor - General Quentin Bryce, who herself has a past history of pro abortion activism, the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd who voted for the importation of the abortifacient drug RU48 and John Brumby whose Government passed the worst abortion law in the Western world?

AND send a copy of your letter to:

Governor - General Quentin Bryce
c/- Government House
Yarralumla Canberra 2600

Rt. Hon. Kevin Rudd
Prime Minister
c/- Parliament House
Canberra 2600

Premier John Brumby
c/- Parliament House
Spring Street
Melbourne 3000

Remember to ask that this Queen's Honour be rescinded ... and this gross insult, the "icing on the cake", the "reward" for this barbaric abortion law, to her otherwise loyal subjects, redressed!

Denise M Cameron
Pro Life Victoria (Inc)
Australia

Melbourne Launch of the Benenson Society....the pro life alternative to Amnesty International 

The April 2007 decision of the International Executive of Amnesty International to adopt a pro abortion policy forced many pro life supporters to withdraw from the organization.

At the time of the decision, Cardinal Martino, President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, warned Amnesty International that it had disqualified itself as a defender of human rights. Here in Australia, Jesuit priest Father Chris Middleton, School Principal of St Aloysius College in Sydney, whose pleas to AI to resist such a policy had fallen on deaf ears, decided to give pro life opponents of the human rights abuse of prisoners of conscience, torture, kidnapping and "disappearances", an alternative to Amnesty International.  He founded the Benenson Society, named after Peter Benenson, the Catholic founder of Amnesty International.

The Melbourne Catholic Archdiocese's  Office for Justice and Peace is pleased to invite you to commemorate this International Human Rights Day with the Melbourne launch of the Benenson Society by Father Tony Kerin, Episcopal Vicar for Justice. The Society aims to provide all people with the opportunity to be involved in the promotion and defence of human rights. It  intends to lobby governments on behalf of prisoners of conscience, to work for the abolition of torture and the death penalty.

International Human Rights Day will be marked with an address by the Hon. Clovis Alidor Mwamba Member of Parliament, Congo, (in exile) journalist, author, victim of torture, campaigner for democracy, human rights and rule of law.

Thursday 10 December 2009, 2.00 p.m. - 3.00 p.m at the Knox Room, Thomas Carr Centre, 278 Victoria Parade Melbourne.

by Denise M Cameron for Pro Life Victoria (Inc.)