"It is time for the Coalition to accept that we can no longer afford the cumbersome and expensive apparatus that serves
no purpose and consumes health care resources that could be redeployed into further contraceptive subsidies and other
areas of Vote Health in need." Craig Young, Research Officer for the Abortion Law Reform Association of New Zealand
today.
"The Abortion Supervisory Committee has no regulatory functions other than research, setting quality assurance standards
for counselling, and urging the implementation of a detailed reproductive and sexual health strategy for this country
based on a firm framework of comprehensive sexuality education. While it does an excellent job in those areas, and we
hope the staff can be redeployed to a reproductive and sexual health unit in the Ministry of Health, the time has come
for abortion law to reflect reality. As a conscientious lobby group, ALRANZ will continue to press for a more
cost-effective legislative framework than the moribund Contraception, Sterilisation and Abortion Act." Mr Young
concluded.
Contact: Craig Young ALRANZ Research Officer (06) 3569099/7750
Dr. Margaret Sparrow ALRANZ National President (04) 4759886