Australia May Scrap Abortion Funding Limits Thanks to Obama’s Decision
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
January 27, 2009
Canberra, Australia (LifeNews.com) — President Barack Obama’s decision to force taxpayers to fund groups that perform or promote abortions in other nations could have a larger effect. It may provide the impetus some pro-abortion Australia lawmakers need to topple a national provision similar to the Mexico City Policy Obama ditched.
Members of the Australia Parliament have been debating for years whether the nation should reverse its rules preventing foreign aid from supporting an abortion agenda in other nations.
While the government of conservative former prime minister John Howard prevented the Australian Agency for International Development from promoting abortions, pro-abortion MPs have pushed Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to repeal the policy.
The policy has been place for 13 years and a CNS News report indicates Foreign Minister Stephen Smith, who can change the policy without legislation needed in parliament, has been considering whether to do so.
The news web site indicates Jane Singleton, CEO of the Australian Reproductive Health Alliance, has been lobbying Smith to change the provision.
“AusAID’s family planning guidelines mimic the [Mexico City Policy]," she said. With Obama now having signed an executive order rescinding the policy, “Australia is now the only country in the world to limit overseas aid funds in this way.”
But Nationals Senator Ron Boswell said Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and members of his government could face a backlash if he approves taxpayer funding of international abortions.
Boswell says there has been no request from nations around the world to fund abortions in their countries.
"I don’t want this to happen and there has been no country that has come to us and specifically said we want aid to fund abortions," Senator Boswell told ABC radio.
"As far as Mr Rudd is concerned, he cuddled up to the churches for the last election — if he does this to them then they’ll turn upon him," Boswell added.
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