When invited to address an October 12 rally in defence of women's right to abortion, both Labor Premier Steve Bracks and state Liberal Party leader Ted Baillieu declined to attend. The rally, held on the steps of the state parliament, was initiated by the Socialist Alliance.
"In the lead-up to the November 25 state election, we need the vital issue of a woman's right to control her own fertility to be on the political agenda", Margarita Windisch, the Socialist Alliance candidate for the seat of Footscray, told the rally.
"Despite the fact that decriminalisation of abortion is official ALP policy, Steve Bracks has been keen to downplay this aspect of his election platform", said Windisch. "We want to know why Premier Bracks has made no public commitment to Victorians about how or when this policy will be implemented. What a sad state of affairs that the most common surgical procedure in the world is a crime, in the year 2006."
"By not making a commitment to removing abortion from the criminal code, Premier Bracks is offering tacit support to those who would deny access to safe, legal termination services, which particularly affects women from rural areas", Brianna Pike, from the socialist youth organisation Resistance, told the crowd.
Other speakers at the rally included Alison Thorne from Radical Women, Michelle Reed from the Campaign for Women's Reproductive Rights, Craig Beale from the Australian Democrats and Vannessa Hearman, the Socialist Alliance candidate for the seat of Brunswick.
A statement from Dr Leslie Cannold, spokesperson for Reproductive Choice Australia, was read to the crowd. "It is vital that the people of Victoria know where their representatives stand on the issue of removing abortion from the Crimes Act", she said. "Congratulations to the Socialist Alliance for seeking to get answers from candidates and sitting members about whether they support repeal, and whether they will do all in their power to ensure the issue is put to a vote in the next term of government."