Why The Secrecy

Humphries Smyth Or Moore Must Release Departmental Advice On Foetal Images

Wayne Berry - Member for Ginninderra

Media Statement - 22 September 1999

Labor MLA Wayne Berry today called on ACT Ministers Humphries, Smyth or Moore to immediately release Departmental advice which exposes the misleading information in the Maternal Health Information Regulations introduced by Humphries and Smyth.

Mr Berry's call follows the refusal by the Government to release this information last week because the Ministers needed time to study the advice.

"Well both Ministers Humphries and Smyth have had plenty of time to study the Departmental advice and all that seems to be stopping this now is embarrassment about their attempts to inflict misleading information on women who have decided to terminate a pregnancy.

"It is not enough for Humphries and Smyth to hide the advice because they are embarrassed about being exposed for their attempts to use incorrect information to influence women psychologically. Sheer embarrassment is not enough to justify the secrecy.

"Its clear that these anti women actions by all of the Liberals have nothing to do with Maternal Health Information but are aimed at using any means to dissuade a women from choosing to end a pregnancy.

"Every Liberal including the Chief Minister have endorsed a move to the now discredited foetal images in an inaccurate presentation to suit their anti choice ideology. The community deserves to know the details of the departmental advice which exposes them," Mr Berry concluded.