QUEENSLAND Senator Ron Boswell has put the abortion back on the political agenda by tabling a series of questions on notice to Health Minister Tony Abbott.
Senator Boswell, who is the National Party’s Senate leader and a Catholic, released the list of questions on January 31.
His questions relate to the number, cost and providers of abortions, and request details on counselling funding and possible links between abortion and other illnesses.
He raised the questions on the basis that, although abortion is governed by state laws, the Commonwealth funds abortions through Medicare.
Senator Boswell asked if there was any reputable research linking women who have had abortions with higher rates of mental illness or breast cancer.
Meanwhile, Buddhist, Hindu, Islamic and Sikh leaders joined with Christian leaders at a meeting in Sydney on January 31 to lobby against abortion.
The meeting was organised by a Sydney-based group, the Foundation for Human Development.
