Anderson fuels abortion debate By Samantha Maiden and Natasha Robinson February 03, 2005 From: The Australian ACTING Prime Minister John Anderson has backed an anti-abortion push to debate late-term terminations and consider changes designed to force doctors to provide more accurate statistics. Despite senior Coalition MPs warning of strong opposition to any changes to the law, the Nationals leader said last night he remained deeply concerned over late-term abortions and the lack of accurate information. Options to reform tax and welfare laws to provide pregnant women with more support to carry a fetus to term were also raised by pro-choice Liberal MP and Human Services Minister Joe Hockey. Labor MP John Murphy confirmed he would introduce a private member's bill, to end a "conspiracy of silence" over abortion, that might include changing the Medicare item number to ensure all abortions were clearly recorded and statistics publicly available. There are believed to be about 70,000 abortions performed nationally each year. Currently, the item number or code used by doctors to refer to an abortion when billing Medicare also applies to procedures carried out after a miscarriage or inducing labour when a fetus dies in the womb. In an interview with The Australian, Mr Anderson said he held strong views on abortion but remained concerned that the debate could degenerate into a divisive and emotional clash between anti-abortion and pro-choice advocates.  "One aspect that particular concerns me is late-term abortions," he said. "At what point do we say a fetus takes on a life of its own? In a society like ours, legislation should reflect as closely as it can the will of the people." Asked whether he would support Mr Murphy's push to introduce changes to Medicare to ensure abortions were accurately recorded to improve statisics, he replied: "That could be helpful. There is a need for a clearer picture on what it is we are debating." Mr Anderson declined to comment on a push by Family First chairman Peter Harris for a national summit. Mr Murphy, the parliamentary secretary to Labor leader Kim Beazley, said yesterday he was drafting a private member's bill that would change the Medicare item number to ensure accurate abortion statistics were publicly available. "One abortion for me is too many, but I want to find out the true figures," he said. Mr Beazley, who is personally opposed to abortion, said on Tuesday that he would not support changes to the law. He urged calm over the divisive issue. "Primarily this remains - whatever the moral views of individual members of society - an issue between a woman and her doctor," Mr Beazley said. Education Minister Brendan Nelson said there was no need to change the current system of Medicare-funded abortions. "Half a million will die worldwide this year as a consequence of unsafe abortions and of unplanned pregnancy," he told ABC radio. "I think we've got it right in Australia." Premier Bob Carr said there was no need to change the laws, confirming almost all abortions in NSW were performed in the first trimester. Additional reporting: David King Male pollies risk abortion 'backlash' By Natasha Robinson and Samantha Maiden February 05, 2005  From: The Australian  LABOR health spokeswoman Julia Gillard yesterday labelled the political controversy over late-term abortion "a debate without a purpose" and warned of a female voter backlash against male politicians. The comments from the nation's highest-profile female politician came as federal Health Minister Tony Abbott welcomed a community debate on late terminations. "I think what we need is a community debate - that community debate is now taking place. Obviously some of my colleagues, as citizens, are joining the debate," Mr Abbott said.  "As a government minister, I put into place government policy. As a citizen, I have my views and I think you're pretty familiar with them."  With John Howard having ruled out any change to the federal position on abortion, Ms Gillard questioned why Mr Abbott was "continuing to stir up this debate".  "If the Prime Minister is true to his word then there will be no changes and there's no purpose in Minister Abbott continuing to stir up this debate," she said. "At the moment, it is a debate without purpose."   Ms Gillard warned of "a backlash from women within the Liberal Party", a statement borne out as debate raged over backbencher Alan Cadman's questioning of why older, educated women were "so dumb to get pregnant willy-nilly". Liberal MP Sharman Stone said Mr Cadman's comments were "out of touch with the realities of human society". "Contraceptive accidents do happen and the nature of human sexuality and Australian society is that we are going to continue to have pregnancies that are unwanted," Dr Stone said.  Liberal senator Jeannie Ferris said there was no mood to change taxpayer funding for abortions through Medicare, attacking the suggestion by Nationals senator Ron Boswell that women considering abortion should have a mandatory ultrasound. "One of the things I find deeply disturbing is the emphasis on Medicare," she said. "The idea that an ultrasound should be used as a form of coercion is disgusting."   [Ed: To  know the TRUTH is disgusting! Please! This comment shows her ignorance and predjudice] Mr Abbott said he was yet to see a private member's bill expected to be put forward by Labor MP John Murphy, who wants to introduce better reporting of abortion statistics.  The debate over late-term abortions was re-ignited this week when a group of religious leaders met in Sydney and called on the Government to legislate a ban on abortions after 20 weeks' gestation.  Doctors in Queensland chimed in yesterday, calling for late-term abortions to be restricted to public hospitals. But Premier Peter Beattie ruled out any changes to state abortion laws.   [Ed: This article also highlights the bias of these reporters. Subtle but evident in the title & the 'statement borne out' comment]