Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 4 Hansard (10 April) . . Page.. 967 ..

MS TUCKER (continuing):

When you look at the facts on this and look at the review, it is crazy. We live in a totally crazy world if all the Australian states and territories do not agree to this. It saves money. Consumers are behind it. It saves litter. It is a really good idea. I understand it is the pressure of multinationals.

Debate (on motion by Mrs Dunne ) adjourned to the next sitting.

Adjournment

Motion (by Mr Wood ) proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

Abortion rally

MRS DUNNE (6.36): Mr Speaker, I rise to speak briefly about the rally organised by the pro-choice groups yesterday. I noticed in the paper and on radio and television that there was a fair amount of hyperbole about the number of attendees. My staff at one stage did a head count and came up with 82 and later in the day did a head count of 120. I ask myself: is this the best the pro-abortion groups can do after three months preparation for this rally? It seems to me, Mr Speaker, that the success of your bill is considerably fraught.

I received a letter this morning and perhaps other members received it . I would like to read some of it into the record. I have sought the permission of the writer to do so. The writer signs her name as Katherine. She has written to me before and I know she has written to other members. She wrote:

Dear Mrs Dunne,

The pro-choice lobby organising today's rally supporting Mr Berry's abortion bills claimed to be speaking for all women. But they were not speaking for me.

I went to the rally to hear what they were saying. But I felt that they didn't care for women like me whose lives have been scarred in ways we could never imagine. I heard them saying abortion is a woman's right. But isn't it also our right to know what might happen to us when we have an abortion?

This is the most tragic bit:

The rally ended with the song "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun". This trivialised the whole issue. Abortion was not fun for me. Abortion is not fun for anyone.

There is an increasing body of material showing that abortion is not fun for women. It shows an increased risk of breast cancer. Previously in this place I have quoted-

Ms Dundas: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. Mrs Dunne has referred to some bills that are on the notice paper. Hence speaking about them in the adjournment debate is out of order.

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .