Hakluyt
02-15-2006, 06:53 AM
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/abortion-will-lead-to-muslim-nation/2006/02/13/1139679540920.html
Abortion will lead to Muslim nation: MP
By Stephanie Peatling
February 14, 2006
AUSTRALIA could become a Muslim nation within 50 years because "we are aborting ourselves almost out of existence", a Government backbencher says.
The former minister Danna Vale is one of five Coalition women proposing an amendment to the private member's bill that seeks to remove ministerial veto over abortion drugs such as RU486. At a news conference called by the five yesterday, she said it was important politicians considered the ramifications "for the community and the nation we become in the future".
"I have read … comments by a certain imam from the Lakemba Mosque [who] actually said that Australia is going to be a Muslim nation in 50 years' time," said Mrs Vale, MP for the southern Sydney seat of Hughes.
"I didn't believe him at the time. But … look at the birthrates and you look at the fact that we are aborting ourselves almost out of existence by 100,000 abortions every year … You multiply that by 50 years. That's 5 million potential Australians we won't have here."
Keysar Trad, head of the Islamic Friendship Association of Australia, said Mrs Vale's remarks were outlandish and that they pandered to xenophobia and the "community's shortage of understanding about Islam".
"It's just a cheap shot and it's very unfortunate," he told AAP.
The amendment, written by the Liberals' Jackie Kelly, would automatically refer any application for use of an abortion drug that came to the Health Minister to the Therapeutic Goods Administration. Its assessment, along with a consideration by the minister of the drug's social implications, would then be considered by Parliament.
Ms Kelly said she was concerned why the number of abortions was significantly higher than the adoption rate.
"There are 250,000 children born each year," she said. "There are 100,000 abortions and 70 adoptions. Termination is more acceptable than adoption."
The Liberal member for the Sydney seat of Greenway, Louise Markus, said "no one wants as many abortions as there are now". The other two women supporting the amendment are the South Australian Liberal Trish Draper and the Queensland National De-Anne Kelly.
The Senate has already voted to remove the minister's veto, but if the amendment succeeded, it would have to be returned to the Senate to be voted on again.
Debate on the bill will begin in the House of Representatives today. Jackie Kelly said she was confident her amendment would be successful.
Another amendment is being proposed by the Queensland Liberal Andrew Laming.
But members are understood to be concerned that the amendment would mean Parliament would be forced into a de facto debate on abortion every time an application was received.
The Minister for Workforce Participation, Sharman Stone, said the issue needed to be resolved "once and for all".
Abortion will lead to Muslim nation: MP
By Stephanie Peatling
February 14, 2006
AUSTRALIA could become a Muslim nation within 50 years because "we are aborting ourselves almost out of existence", a Government backbencher says.
The former minister Danna Vale is one of five Coalition women proposing an amendment to the private member's bill that seeks to remove ministerial veto over abortion drugs such as RU486. At a news conference called by the five yesterday, she said it was important politicians considered the ramifications "for the community and the nation we become in the future".
"I have read … comments by a certain imam from the Lakemba Mosque [who] actually said that Australia is going to be a Muslim nation in 50 years' time," said Mrs Vale, MP for the southern Sydney seat of Hughes.
"I didn't believe him at the time. But … look at the birthrates and you look at the fact that we are aborting ourselves almost out of existence by 100,000 abortions every year … You multiply that by 50 years. That's 5 million potential Australians we won't have here."
Keysar Trad, head of the Islamic Friendship Association of Australia, said Mrs Vale's remarks were outlandish and that they pandered to xenophobia and the "community's shortage of understanding about Islam".
"It's just a cheap shot and it's very unfortunate," he told AAP.
The amendment, written by the Liberals' Jackie Kelly, would automatically refer any application for use of an abortion drug that came to the Health Minister to the Therapeutic Goods Administration. Its assessment, along with a consideration by the minister of the drug's social implications, would then be considered by Parliament.
Ms Kelly said she was concerned why the number of abortions was significantly higher than the adoption rate.
"There are 250,000 children born each year," she said. "There are 100,000 abortions and 70 adoptions. Termination is more acceptable than adoption."
The Liberal member for the Sydney seat of Greenway, Louise Markus, said "no one wants as many abortions as there are now". The other two women supporting the amendment are the South Australian Liberal Trish Draper and the Queensland National De-Anne Kelly.
The Senate has already voted to remove the minister's veto, but if the amendment succeeded, it would have to be returned to the Senate to be voted on again.
Debate on the bill will begin in the House of Representatives today. Jackie Kelly said she was confident her amendment would be successful.
Another amendment is being proposed by the Queensland Liberal Andrew Laming.
But members are understood to be concerned that the amendment would mean Parliament would be forced into a de facto debate on abortion every time an application was received.
The Minister for Workforce Participation, Sharman Stone, said the issue needed to be resolved "once and for all".