Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Licence needed for work use Learn More
Parliament

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | Video | Questions Of the Day | Search

 

Seymour challenges Parliament on abortion law reform


Seymour challenges Parliament on abortion law reform

“Our abortion laws are archaic, and should be modernized,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.

“I have always believed in personal choice, and that extends to the issue of abortion,” says Seymour. “Morally, abortion is about a woman’s body and her choice. Practically, prohibitions on this choice have had horrible consequences such as child neglect and unsafe abortions.

“Sadly, our current laws are a charade. Nobody believes that 97 per cent of women who have abortions are mentally ill, but that is what we are expected to believe according to official statistics.

“The right thing to do is reform abortion law to reflect what actually happens: women exercise choice for their own reasons.

“If I did not already have a bill on an important moral issue in the Members’ ballot I would seriously consider a bill on this issue.

“Ninety-three of my colleagues are eligible to produce a bill that would modernize our abortion laws, but none have. Instead the ballot is filled with bills on everything from the wearing of military decorations to the length of Auckland’s wharves.

“It’s disappointing to see grandstanding on this issue from Labour and Green MPs who fail to follow through with a sensible bill on abortion reform,” says Mr Seymour.

ENDS

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

Featured News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.