crazybrave

Dear Members

I write to encourage you to vote to regulate the drug RU 486 through the TGA.

I had a miscarriage in 2003*, and was advised I didn’t need a D&C. It turned out, several weeks later, that I did. I had to wait nearly a month to access a D&C through the public hospital system. I couldn’t afford to do it privately, so I ended up with weeks more heavy bleeding and pain, not to mention distress. Perhaps using RU 486 under my GP’s supervision would have saved me that? I hope it could assist someone in a similar situation.

I understand that enabling the TGA to regulate RU 486 means that it prescribes – as it does for other medications – the safe manner in which it is able to be used. I believe that if this system is adequate for all other therapeutic goods and medications, it should be good enough for RU 486. If it isn’t, what are we going to do about the TGA? Similarly, if we need to revisit what community standards are about access to terminations of pregnancy, let’s do it directly.

I urge you to use your conscience vote to allow Australian women to exercise their own consciences. Please support the Bill.

Sincerely

* A mistake, it was 2004.

TALLY BOARD:

Peter Lindsay, Liberal, Qld – agrees.
Louise Markus, Liberal, NSW – all email answered with snail mail letters – please send address. I did, but said I wasn’t seeking a formal reply.
Trish Draper, Liberal, SA – it is still a matter of conjecture whether this method of abortion is even safe [that's why the TGA will be required to evaluate it - Ed]. Will not be supporting the Bill.
Kim Wilkie, Labor, WA – current scheme is unworkable, and is affecting those seeking to use RU 486 to treat cancer.
Julia Irwin, Labor,NSW – agrees.
Tony Windsor, Independent, NSW – non committal thanks for sending message.
Wilson Tuckey, Liberal,WA – same reply Kate got, see comments.
Kelly Hoare, Labor, NSW – supporting the Bill.
Alan Cadman, Liberal, Vic – RU 486 is unique, possibly dangerous and he will not be supporting the Bill. He attaches a soon-to-be-published article which states that the TGA admits it is unqualified to make determinations about the drug, refers to research from our old mates the Southern Cross Bioethics Institute, and recent New Zealand research which he says “indicates there are long-term psychological consequences of having an abortion”. Don’t agree of course, but he has paid me the courtesy of a detailed (if standard) reply which actually sets out his views – as did Kelly Hoare, btw.
Jill Hall, ALP, NSW – supports the Bill.
Lindsay Tanner, ALP, Vic – says “Australia’s longstanding system of having scientific experts, not politicians, make decisions about the availability of drug”

From Amanda Vanstone’s speech yesterday:

I note, incidentally, that some of the churches who are opposed to any form of abortion can somehow come to the concept of what is referred to as a ‘just war’. I am at a loss to marry the two. If you can come to a view that there can be a just war, why can there never be a just abortion? I cannot see it, and I have never had it answered.

I can tell you why, Senator Vanstone. It’s because men decide what a just war is, and a woman decides if she wants to continue a pregnancy.

I’ve emailed all the Senators who voted in favour of the Private Members’ Bill to thank them – except Vanstone and Hill, who as Ministers don’t have public email addresses . The other addresses are here

Over the weekend I’ll be writing to all the Members of the House of Reps. Their addresses are here. Please join me.

And wasn’t Abbott crap on the 7:30 Report last night? No time right now to go too far into why, but hopefully I’ll get a chance to get the full body fisking suit out later.

Cross posted at Womens’ Forum Australia.

If you missed RN’s “Background Briefing” on Sunday at 9 am, the excellent program on “Labour in Crisis” is repeated tonight just after 7 or downloadable.

Do yourself a favour, kids.

And in the spirit of disclosure employed to great effect at the beginning of the show, I’ll tell you all that the presenter is an old mate. But it’s still good.

Our new cat rocks.

* And I would like to remind anyone with taste issues re: floorcoverings that we are renting, and this house has some other lovely features. Like feature walls. Sometimes four of ‘em to a room.