31st August, 2012

The Therapeutic Goods Administration's decision to grant a licence to import the abortion drug RU486 was "not in the best interest of women", according to the Australian Christian Lobby.

Wendy Francis, a spokeswomen for the ACL, said the decision to grant a licence Marie Stopes International to import the controversial drug was a serious error.

“Women facing un-supported pregnancy should be offered real choices by our society, not a dangerous chemical to poison their un-born child," she said.

“As a society we do very poorly in promoting alternatives to women beyond chemical or surgical abortion and this is a tragedy for women and unborn babies."

Debbie Garratt, executive director of Real Choices Australia, said in a statement that while the move is being "sold" by Marie Stopes, abortion advocates and the media as a "victory for women's health", "social structures that do not support women to continue their pregnancies, but force them to choose between careers and children, education and children, partners and family and children are not 'health' issues".

"Establishing flexible programs of study for pregnant and parenting university students is a solution," she said.

"Prosecuting men who are violent toward their partners and coerce them into having abortions is a solution. Appropriate housing, warm clothes and adequate food for a homeless, pregnant women is a solution."

"These solutions cost money, take time, involve more resources and say to women you do not have to choose. They are better for women. RU486 is better for Marie Stopes."

~ www.acl.org.au

~ www.realchoices.org.au

- DAVID ADAMS