WENDY FRANCIS, Queensland state director of the Australian Christian Lobby, argues that liberalising the Australian state of Queensland’s abortion laws would not only not be supported within the community but fail to address the “real needs” of women…
Few other issues in recent Queensland political history have invoked as huge a response, and widespread concern, as the push to decriminalise abortion in this state.
Pro-abortion advocates are lobbying governments and communities to support abortion being legal for any reason, at any stage of pregnancy, until birth. In contrast to this, in 10 weeks, close to 12,000 Queenslanders signed the latest parliamentary petition against the removal of legislative safeguards from abortion in Queensland. The petition called on our Government to consider the wellbeing of women as well as the humanity of the unborn child and their inherent human rights. It also called on the government to investigate better options for women in need of support. It was the third Parliamentary petition against the liberalisation of abortion in Queensland in two years, collecting a combined total of more than 67,000 signatures.
In March, thousands of people took part in the annual March for Life in Brisbane. PICTURE: Supplied.
“It is difficult to see why there is this urgent attempt to weaken our abortion laws. Abortion is legally available in Queensland where there is risk to the physical or mental health of a woman…Queenslanders do not want more abortions, and yet this is precisely what we are facing with the proposed removal of any deterrent to an abortion procedure.”
In a Galaxy Poll conducted in February this year, 76 per cent of voters polled said that they believe abortion harms women’s health, 60 per cent of those polled oppose mid-term abortions past 13 weeks, while 26 per cent said they knew of someone who has been pressured to have an abortion. Many women who undergo abortion are deeply conflicted with their decision; some do so under duress or coercion from partners, family and friends. Many feel that they have no option except the choice to abort.
Cases of abortion coercion are usually only seen by those experiencing the trauma, but in 2017, the reality of this phenomena became front page news in our nation when, within the course of a week, the NRL was shaken by two separate, shocking allegations involving players who coerced their girlfriends into undergoing abortions. Sadly, the actions of the celebrity footballers in this case are a reflection of the largely self-obsessed culture we are living in.
It is difficult to see why there is this urgent attempt to weaken our abortion laws. Abortion is legally available in Queensland where there is risk to the physical or mental health of a woman. No woman has ever been convicted for having an abortion. Around 14,000 abortions are performed in Queensland every year. Over 10,000 of these are surgical procedures covered by Medicare. Queenslanders do not want more abortions, and yet this is precisely what we are facing with the proposed removal of any deterrent to an abortion procedure.
After two failed attempts in liberalise abortion law in Queensland in the previous parliamentary term, the current Queensland Government referred our state’s abortion laws to the Queensland Law Reform Commission who are tasked with the role of recommending amendments to Queensland’s abortion laws. Their report is due to be released by the end of June, 2018.
“Full decriminalisation of abortion in Queensland is medically, physically and morally wrong. In this social media world, the first image of a new baby is often an ultrasound scan image inside the womb, dispelling any notion that the life which is conceived is just a ‘clump of cells’.”
Independent of what the commission recommends, it is very apparent that Queenslanders remain opposed to any changes that would remove safeguards from abortion legislation. Full decriminalisation of abortion in Queensland is medically, physically and morally wrong. In this social media world, the first image of a new baby is often an ultrasound scan image inside the womb, dispelling any notion that the life which is conceived is just a “clump of cells”.
Abortion is an issue that is rarely spoken of yet there is much damage and hurt in the community from the pain of loss and internal conflict about the decision. To remove existing safeguards is to let women and the unborn babies they are carrying down, as it re-enforces the message that abortion is the only option for an unplanned, unwanted, pregnancy, and in so doing, fails to address the real needs that women have when faced with this situation. We will continue to urge our government to address the core needs of all women by providing real choice to continue their pregnancy and by giving support to those in need with practical means and independent counselling.
“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!” – Deuteronomy 30:19
Wendy Francis is the Queensland state director of the Australian Christian Lobby.
