Abortion is a ‘fashion’-NT says

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A Northern Territory politician has described abortion as a ‘fashion’, during a debate about the drug RU486.

Independent Gerry Wood made the remarks as the Territory parliament argues whether to legalise the medical abortion pill.

NT politicians have been given a conscience vote on the bill.

But Mr Wood said he was opposed to any kind of abortion.

‘Some people might say that I’m just fighting against the tide. This is women’s business. Go away. But I think just because something is the fashion, doesn’t mean it’s correct,’ he said.

Mr Wood was once the ‘kingmaker’ in the former Henderson Labor Government, a position many pundits believe he could regain after the NT election in August.

The former chicken farmer is also a devout Catholic, with strong views on abortion.

He told the parliament last night he believed life began at conception, not birth.

‘GK Chesterson is a great English writer and philosopher who once wrote: ‘Fallacies do not cease to become fallacies because they become fashions’,’ Mr Wood told Parliament.

‘And so it is with abortion. You can read all the glossy magazines, listen to the commentators in the media, the midday TV shows, hear what the family planning people have to say and the YWCA … of course there’s people here who would know about Emily’s List.

Then you see what this fashion is about. And according to this fashion in this Western society that we live in, that reckons that the unborn is simply an indeterminate bunch of cells, that is only a human being when it leaves its mother’s womb, until then it has no status, no protection, and is not human.

That is the fashion of the day and that is the fallacy of the world today.’

The bill has been sponsored by the Independent Speaker Kezia Purick.

It has the support of many Labor MLAs, including Nicole Manison and Natasha Fyles who both spoke in support of the bill.

‘It is time for Territory women to have the same rights as women across Australia,’ Ms Fyles said.

But concerns were raised about three late amendments made to the proposed legislation, including one that would ban protests at abortion clinics.

The matter was adjourned for further debate when Parliament resumes next month.