RU486 Bill set to become law

By Matthew Franklin
February 16, 2006

Opposition ... a Sydney shopfront protesting the RU486 pill. TREASURER Peter Costello once had to choose whether his wife Tanya should undergo an abortion or continue a pregnancy that could risk her life.

Mr Costello's sometimes emotional speech in Parliament yesterday appeared to have changed the minds of several MPs over the controversial abortion pill RU486.
As at last night 41 of 56 MPs (including Mr Costello) had spoken in favour of the Bill to give Parliament the final say on the pill. The Bill looks highly likely to pass a ballot today and become law.

Supporters were covering their bases by lobbying heavily against proposed amendments.

One of the seven speakers against was Mr Abbott, who said it was an "unutterable shame" that there were up to 100,000 abortions a year in Australia and that some women saw this as "a badge of liberation from old oppressions".

"We have a bizarre double standard in this country where someone who kills a pregnant woman's baby is guilty of murder but a woman who aborts an unborn baby is simply exercising choice," Mr Abbott said.

He said he would not judge or condemn any woman who had an abortion but could not support a Bill that would take responsibility for RU-486 out of the hands of elected politicians.

Supporters of the Bill described Mr Costello's backing as a turning point in the often-emotional debate. "What Peter does has a great influence," said West Australian Liberal MP Mal Washer, a doctor who backed the Bill on Tuesday.

"He's seen as the next leader of our party and this is just terrific for our side of the debate."

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