News Latest News Abortion trial begins in Queensland
| Tuesday, 12 October 2010 11:13 |
Abortion trial begins in QueenslandThere is increasing pressure in Queensland to 'legalise' abortion, following the legalisation of abortion in Victoria two years ago. This pressure will be intensified this week, with the start of a trial of two people in the Cairns District Court. Tegan Leach, 20, and her partner, Sergie Brenna, 22, have been accused of importing the abortion drug misoprostol (like RU 486) from the Ukraine and using it to abort their unborn child. Leach has been charged, under Section 225 of the 1899 Queensland Criminal Code, of 'procuring her own abortion' and Brenna has been charged under Section 226 - for supplying drugs or instruments to procure an abortion. Read media reports of the case:  Some organisations, including abortion provider Marie Stopes International, and individuals are calling for 'reform' of the law in Queensland - in other words, they want abortion to be legalised in Queensland. Professor George Williams is one of these, writing in the SMH. He complains that Queensland Premier Anna Bligh has said her government won't introduce such legislation but rather says if it is to be discussed it would be as a private member's bill and a conscience vote. In the previous parliament, MP Bonny Barry wanted to move a Bill to legalise abortion and says she now regrets not persisting with that despite pressure from the Premier not to proceed. Bonny Barry lost her seat at the last election, at least partly because of a drop in support following a campaign exposing her views on abortion. Meanwhile, Queensland pro-life group Cherish Life is actively opposing the legalisation of abortion. We will be monitoring this trial and the outcome... as well as possible moves by MPs to legalise abortion in Queensland. Please pray that abortion is not legalised in Queensland. |