According to Jill Michelson, Acting Chief Executive Officer of Marie Stopes International Australia, women faced with an unplanned pregnancy already have access to independent, non-biased counselling and in the majority of cases, make the decision to terminate a pregnancy also having sought advice from their partner, family members and doctor.

“The notion that women make the decision to terminate a pregnancy in isolation and without due consideration is misleading. In the majority of cases, the women we see at Marie Stopes International Australia have reached their decision in consultation with those close to them – their family, partner and doctor. Where they are still unsure of their decision then they are referred to an independent agency; one which will explore all their options.”

Marie Stopes International Australia is also in support of Senator Natasha Stott Despoja’s Private Member’s Bill (Transparent Advertising and Notification of Pregnancy Counselling Services Bill 2005) to ensure women who choose to undergo counselling have access to transparent, independent services in which they are advised of all options available to them.

“Access to professional, non-biased counselling services is a basic component of a woman’s right to choose. Women should be able to choose whether or not counselling is appropriate for them and, most importantly, have the confidence in exercising their choice that the counselling service they choose will offer non-judgmental and unbiased support.”, Ms Michelson said.

At present, there is no legal requirement for anti-choice agencies to disclose their position in relation to abortion. Many women faced with an unplanned pregnancy inadvertently go to these services without knowing that they will not receive complete information on the range options available to them.

According to Ms Michelson,“The $60 million would be better spent on improving sex education for teens and increasing access to contraception and sexual and reproductive healthcare services in an effort to prevent unplanned pregnancy.”

“Australia still lacks a uniform sex education program and research has shown that many doctors and pharmacists around the country, particularly in rural communities, still refuse to prescribe or supply women with contraception such as the morning after pill”, she said.

The experience of countries such as the Netherlands, where abortion is legal and which has one of the lowest rates of abortion in the world, is evidence of the need for open discussion about sexual health, coupled with preventative education and ready access to services. The Netherlands has a teenage pregnancy rate 4 times lower than Australia.

For further information please contact:

Gail Carland
Public Relations Manager
Ph: 03 9658 7507