Page 1122 - Week 05 - Tuesday, 23 June 1992
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The waiting list in this country for adopted children is over five years, if you are lucky enough to get on the list. This shows us all that, while half the world is trying to abort children, the rest of the world is trying to have them. To me, children are the only heritage worth leaving in this world. In a situation where a young woman or a married couple who are struggling to make ends meet see an abortion as their only solution, such beliefs do not reflect on the people involved but rather on us. I see this as an indictment of our society. Children should be cherished, loved and wanted.
I was perhaps very lucky; my mother was 46 when she had me and my father was 59 at the time. I was the last of six children and perhaps they could have been excused had they decided not to go ahead and have me. However, I am very glad that they decided not to have an abortion, although I am quite sure that there are members opposite who might not agree. My heart goes out to any woman who feels that she has only this path to travel down. I hope that more education and prevention will be taught, not only at school but also in the home. Perhaps if this were the case we would not be sitting here today needing to pass this Bill, because the Act already in place in the ACT would cover it.
I have come to terms with my decision and I will vote as my conscience dictates. I have made this decision as a believer in human rights, as a practising Catholic and as a woman. But I will fight for the right of every member of this house to vote according to what he or she believes is right. After all, that is what democracy is all about. Again, I thank my colleagues in the Labor Party, who have treated me at all times with great respect on this subject.
MR WOOD (Minister for Education and Training, Minister for the Arts and Minister for the Environment, Land and Planning) (9.41): Madam Speaker, I will be supporting this legislation. If I was in any doubt - and I was not - I think the debate tonight would have convinced me. I am much convinced by the weight of the arguments expressed by those in support. I have to say that over many years I have not been an immediate supporter of the provision of abortion. Like others, it is a matter that I have given a great deal of attention to over many years and my views have been formed after quite earnest debate within myself and with many other people.
I will reflect only briefly on some of the major attitudes that were instrumental in my making the decision I have, instrumental in my exercising my conscience vote. First of all, I do not accept that human life begins at conception. I do not believe that. I do not think it is the case. I do believe that individuals, men and women, as far as humanly possible should accept responsibility for their actions. Where people have control over those actions, they should accept the outcome. For me, this is an important principle. I believe that, increasingly, in too many circumstances we pass over to others the responsibility for what we do.
I know that in many circumstances a great number of people have very little control over what happens around them, but for those who can exercise control I make that point. Where something is undertaken that results in a known outcome, then people should accept the repercussions of that outcome. I know that society, quite properly, does intervene to allow people to recover from their foolishness; but I repeat that, for me, that is an important principle.
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