Hon Bill English
24 May 2004
Another child sex law needs fixing
The Government should change the law that allows underage girls to have abortions without the knowledge or consent of
their parents, says National MP Bill English.
"Labour has all but acknowledged that the law permitting sex for 12 to 16-year-old children is wrong; so how can it
justify allowing a girl of the same age to have an abortion without her parents knowing?"
The Care of Children Bill, currently before a select committee, contains a provision allowing underage abortion without
parental consent. Section 37 of the Bill goes against the general rule that all medical procedures for people under 16
require parental consent.
"Parents have to sign permission slips for any absence from school, but a school counsellor can send someone's daughter
off for an abortion without their knowing," says Mr English.
"Labour's permissive attitude to child sex is unacceptable. The law should be changed so that parents aren't fenced out
while children are faced with such a life altering and traumatic decision
ENDS