RU486 debate enters Australian Senate
{{date|February 8, 2006}}
{{aussieissue|RU486 (abortion pill) debate}}
The looming debate on whether the [[Australia]]n Health Minister [[Tony Abbott]] or the {{w|Theraputic Goods Administration}} (TGA) should regulate mifepristone, {{w|RU486}}, has entered the Australian Senate, February 8. A {{w|free vote}} is due to be conducted on this issue.

The first speakers have been all women speaking in support of passing control from the Health Minister to the TGA: {{w|Australian National Party}} Senator {{w|Fiona Nash}}, {{w|Australian Democrats}} Senator {{w|Lyn Allison}}, {{w|Australian Labor Party}} Senator {{w|Claire Moore}}. They have drawn attention to the fact that abortion is already legal in Australia, the inappropriateness of a Parliament minister to regulate a single drug versus a scientific and independent body, and if RU486 is an unsafe drug then the TGA will not approve the drug. Petitions were presented by Moore with the undersigned stating "medical experts, not the health minister" should regulate the drug.

{{w|Australian Liberal Party}} Senator {{w|Gary Humphries}} then spoke, stating that the bill is a "mistake", not because of the possible risks, or that the TGA is unfit to perform the evaluation, but because RU486 is "not just another drug", "facilitating a medical procedure that is not just a medical procedure". {{w|Australian Greens}} Senator {{w|Kerry Nettle}} spoke in favour of the bill, making mention of views of others on the supposed {{w|push polling}} of some groups opposing the bill. Liberal Senator {{w|Nick Minchin}}, the new Leader of the Government in the Senate, spoke in support of Humphries and his views, and "was not persuaded to support [the] bill", and expressed his "conservative" views that life begun "from conception onwards". {{w|Family First Party}} Senator {{w|Steven Fielding}} spoke out against the bill also, likening the TGA as comprising of "unelected bureaucrats". He further commented that Family First cannot consider the social policy issues without considering social views, and drew attention to the TGA's response in the earlier Senate inquiry that the TGA "cannot consider social and ethical issues". Fielding drew attention to the guillotine being placed on the debate of the bill and the attitudes of the non-Government senators earlier criticising the Government on the industrial relations legislation being "rammed through" late last year.

Other senators, including {{w|Guy Barnett}} (Lib.), {{w|Helen Polley}} (Labor), also later spoke against the bill; Senators {{w|Judith Adams}} (Lib.), {{w|Ruth Webber}} (Labor) spoke in support.

== Related news ==
*{{Wikinews|title=RU486 Abortion pill hearings begin in Australia|date=february 3, 2006}}
== Sources ==
{{original}}
* ABC NewsRadio broadcasts of the Senate, February 8, 2006
* Australian Senate ''[http://www.aph.gov.au/hansard/reps/dailys/ds080206.pdf Hansard]'' (pdf), February 8, 2006.
== External links ==
{{wikipediapar|Mifepristone}}

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[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Australia]]
[[Category:Oceania]]
[[Category:Tony Abbott]]
[[Category:Abortion]]
[[Category:Australian Parliament]]
[[Category:Australian Senate]]
[[Category:Mifepristone]]
[[Category:Therapeutic Goods Amendment (Repeal of Ministerial responsibility for approval of RU486) Act 2006]]
[[Category:Liberal Party (Australia)]]
The looming debate on whether the Australian Health Minister Tony Abbott or the RU486, has entered the Australian Senate, February 8. A  is due to be conducted on this issue.

The first speakers have been all women speaking in support of passing control from the Health Minister to the TGA: Fiona Nash, Lyn Allison, Claire Moore. They have drawn attention to the fact that abortion is already legal in Australia, the inappropriateness of a Parliament minister to regulate a single drug versus a scientific and independent body, and if RU486 is an unsafe drug then the TGA will not approve the drug. Petitions were presented by Moore with the undersigned stating "medical experts, not the health minister" should regulate the drug.

Gary Humphries then spoke, stating that the bill is a "mistake", not because of the possible risks, or that the TGA is unfit to perform the evaluation, but because RU486 is "not just another drug", "facilitating a medical procedure that is not just a medical procedure". Kerry Nettle spoke in favour of the bill, making mention of views of others on the supposed Nick Minchin, the new Leader of the Government in the Senate, spoke in support of Humphries and his views, and "was not persuaded to support the bill", and expressed his "conservative" views that life begun "from conception onwards". Steven Fielding spoke out against the bill also, likening the TGA as comprising of "unelected bureaucrats". He further commented that Family First cannot consider the social policy issues without considering social views, and drew attention to the TGA's response in the earlier Senate inquiry that the TGA "cannot consider social and ethical issues". Fielding drew attention to the guillotine being placed on the debate of the bill and the attitudes of the non-Government senators earlier criticising the Government on the industrial relations legislation being "rammed through" late last year.

Other senators, including Helen Polley (Labor), also later spoke against the bill; Senators Ruth Webber (Labor) spoke in support.
Politics and conflicts Australia Oceania Tony Abbott Abortion Australian Parliament Australian Senate Mifepristone Therapeutic Goods Amendment (Repeal of Ministerial responsibility for approval of RU486) Act 2006 Liberal Party (Australia)