1st March, 2013
A proposal to remove Medicare funding for sex-selection abortions has been welcomed by the Australian Christian Lobby.
Democratic Labor Party Senator John Madigan introduced a motion – the Health Insurance Amendment (Medicare Funding for Certain Types of Abortion) Bill 2013 – into the Senate this week and aims to introduce the bill next month. It would prevent the public funding of abortions “procured on the basis of gender selection”.
Senator Madigan told The Australian this week that while we might not like to think it happens in Australia, "parents can and do pick the gender of their child to fit their lifestyle, and do abort a child of the unwanted sex".
Jim Wallace, ACL managing director, says it is " horrifying to think that parents could abort their child simply because its gender does not suit their lifestyle".
"Whilst ACL opposes abortion, the acceptance of abortion for sex selection is a new low in the abortion agenda’s progression in our society," he says.
“It is the duty of our legislators to ensure unborn children are afforded the most basic of human rights.”
Mr Wallace said the case of a Victorian couple – who aborted their twin boys because they already had three sons and wanted a daughter – should send a resounding message to politicians of the harmful consequences of sex-selection abortion.
“We urge leaders of both parties to preserve the sanctity of human life by taking serious consideration of Senator Madigan”s proposed bill and allowing this to be debated freely in the Parliament."
– DAVID ADAMS