Repeal of ministerial control of RU486 bill passes Australian Senate
{{date|February 9, 2006}}

The bill on whether the [[Australia|Australian]] Federal Health Minster [[w:Tony Abbott|Tony Abbott]] should not exercise ministerial control of the [[w:abortifacient|abortifacient]] [[w:RU486|RU486]] has passed the [[w:Australian Senate|Australian Senate]] February 9, 2006. If the bill passes the [[w:Australian House of Representatives|Australian House of Representatives]], the [[w:Therapeutic Goods Administration|Therapeutic Goods Administration]] (TGA) will exercise control and evaluation of the suitability of the drug for use in Australia.

Senators were allowed a [[w:free vote|free vote]] on the issue. The result of the [[w:division (vote)|vote]] on the [[w:third reading|third reading]], the final stage of the bill, was 45 for to 28 in favour of TGA exercising control. 23 of the 26 female senators voted in favour of the bill, while numbers were more evenly split between the male senators; 21 of them voted for the bill and 25 were against.

The bill will be debated in the House of Representatives on February 14, 2006.

== Related news ==
*{{Wikinews|title=RU486 debate enters Australian Senate|date=February 8, 2006}}

== Sources ==
{{original}}
* Australian Senate ''[http://www.aph.gov.au/hansard/senate/dailys/ds090206.pdf Hansard]'' (pdf), February 9, 2006.

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[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Australia]]
[[Category:Oceania]]
[[Category:Tony Abbott]]
[[Category:Mifepristone]]
[[Category:Therapeutic Goods Amendment (Repeal of Ministerial responsibility for approval of RU486) Act 2006]]
The bill on whether the Australian Federal Health Minster Tony Abbott should not exercise ministerial control of the abortifacient RU486 has passed the Australian Senate February 9, 2006. If the bill passes the Australian House of Representatives, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) will exercise control and evaluation of the suitability of the drug for use in Australia.

Senators were allowed a free vote on the issue. The result of the vote on the third reading, the final stage of the bill, was 45 for to 28 in favour of TGA exercising control. 23 of the 26 female senators voted in favour of the bill, while numbers were more evenly split between the male senators; 21 of them voted for the bill and 25 were against.

The bill will be debated in the House of Representatives on February 14, 2006.
Politics and conflicts Australia Oceania Tony Abbott Mifepristone Therapeutic Goods Amendment (Repeal of Ministerial responsibility for approval of RU486) Act 2006