Displaying items by tag: freedom of political communication

 In the wake of the passing of another  'Safe-Access' zones bill,  a NSW MP has sanctioned the idea that violence against life advocates is acceptable. Emma Husar, Labor's member for Lindsay, made the comment in a thread on her public Facebook page.

Not content with killing babies, traumatising parents and harvesting body parts, abortion providers are always looking at new strategies to inhibit the work of the pro-life community or to bolster their income. For of course, every baby saved from abortion means a slimmer pay-packet for the abortionist and his staff. In Australia, that could mean a loss of around $600 for a first-trimester abortion and up to $7700 for a late-term abortion. So it's little wonder that abortionists are eager to have special laws created in order to get women to keep those appointments. One example is the profusion of bubble-zone laws that have sprung up in recent years. In a western liberal democracy, we should be very concerned when the government enacts laws that target one specific group of people. Laws should be created solely to target behaviour, not groups or organisations. But exclusion-zone laws in the US, Canada, the UK and Australia do just that. 

"Ladies and gentlemen, I know it’s International Women’s Day so first I must apologise for not being a woman. It’s particularly regrettable that I’m not a glamorous Sudanese-Egyptian-Australian woman who wears a hijab promoting a book about what it’s like being a glamorous Sudanese-Egyptian-Australian woman who wears a hijab. If I was, this wouldn’t be the only event I’ve got lined up on my non-government funded whirlwind Trigger Warning awareness-raising tour. When I met the great cartoonist Bill Mitchell about 34 years ago, he said, “Mate, a cartoonist only has to be funny once a day, but it’s a lot harder than you’d think.” He was right, but he had no idea how much harder it would be for me than it ever was for him.

Les Jones is a veteran pro-lifer with decades of experience. Here he shares some memories of activism at a former abortuary in Carlton, Melbourne.

Following the example and inspiration of people like Joan Andrews, Right to Life tried a few Operation Rescues in the late 80s.  

One was at the facility of Christine Healy in Swanston St, Carlton. 

About 12 people blocked the entrance, while others witnessed outside and did not break the law. I was one of the latter group that day.

Those arrested were fined varying amounts, and accepted imprisonment for periods ranging from 12 hours to 6 days for a re offender.

The magistrate also banned Right to Life from witnessing within 50 metres.

The late Mary O'Connor, grandmother of Veronica Corboy's husband, was in a waiting room several months later and admired a baby.

The baby's mother told Mary that she had gone to the facility that day, but changed her mind and kept the baby, a decision that she was grateful for.

There is a young person walking around today as a result.

We had similar witnesses outside abortuaries in Wellington Pde and St Kilda Rd. Because of the ruling of the magistrate mentioned above, the idea of rescues was abandoned: Right to Life did not want to cause problems to Richard and his team of Helpers

Christine Healy moved to a new location near the University. We know of one baby saved through the witness of a young mother.