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Advocacy organisation FamilyVoice Australia is calling on the Australian government to provide positive compassionate solutions for women both in Australia and abroad who may feel they have no choice but to access abortion.

“Delivering an extra $9.5 million of Australia’s overseas aid to abortion provider Planned Parenthood is not the right solution to the problem,” said FamilyVoice National Director Ashley Saunders. 

“This decision made by Foreign Minister Julie Bishop yesterday is ill-informed.

“Australia should not partner with SPRINT co-founder Planned Parenthood, which has profiteered from selling baby parts in the USA. Australia should instead fund birthing facilities and obstetrics through more trustworthy organisations.

“Many mothers actually want to keep their babies but lack the support they need. We should be helping women in developing countries with access to proper birthing facilities, information and support, not abortion.

“These same things should be made available to women in Australia.”

One positive compassionate action would be to introduce baby drop-off boxes around Australia, at key public buildings. 

In February 2016, NSW Deputy State Coroner Hugh Dillon recommended introducing baby drop-off boxes following the tragic death of a newborn baby whose remains were discovered at a Sydney beach. Baby safe boxes have been used with great success in other countries including South Korea, the Czech Republic, Germany, Canada and Japan. 

FamilyVoice also calls upon the government to introduce “safe haven” laws which protect mothers who abandon newborns from facing prosecution.

“Mothers shouldn’t face prosecution if they feel they have no choice but to abandon their newborns. Our government policies need to provide mothers with what they actually need - love, compassion and support; not termination.”