Acting Leader of the Australian Greens, Senator Richard Di Natale, today called for Tony Abbott to condemn Liberal Senator Cory Bernardi's views after the release of his new book containing hateful and offensive statements. “The Greens condemn Cory Bernardi’s attack on women, workers, same-sex couples and Islam,” said Senator Di Natale. “Senator Bernardi’s statements about abortion, Islam, same-sex and single-parent families are truly offensive. The Senator is merely continuing his form as an ideological warrior lacking any intellectual rigour, insight or common decency.

• Abortion Is No Sleeper Issue (Lee opinion piece), September 3, New Matilda
• Micro parties to be deal makers, September 8, Australian Financial Review

Labor and Coalition MPs have failed to stand up for women in a Senate Committee response to Senator John Madigan’s sex-selection abortion bill, designed to limit sexual reproductive rights.

Senator Madigan’s bill removes Medicare funding for abortions procured on the basis of selecting the gender of the child.

“The Greens have recommended the bill not be passed.

Senator RHIANNON (New South Wales) (17:12): The Health Insurance Amendment (Medicare Funding for Certain Types of Abortion) Bill, moved by Democratic Labor Party Senator John Madigan, is not about sex selection abortion. The Greens share concerns about sex selection abortion where it occurs. However, there is no evidence abortions procured on the basis of selecting the gender of the child are occurring in Australia or that Medicare is being used to fund such procedures.

Motions, Monday 17 June 2013

Senator MADIGAN (Victoria) (15:40): I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 1244 standing in my name for today related to gender biased sex selection.

Leave granted.

Senator MADIGAN: I move the motion as amended:

This piece first appeared in New Matilda.

Feminist principles have always shaped Greens policy and procedures. That's reflected in the participation of women in the party, writes Greens spokesperson for women Lee Rhiannon.

This article first appeared on Open Forum on 2 May 2013.

After the announcement that the abortion drugs RU486 and Misoprostol could be approved for tax subsidy by the government, Greens senator for NSW Lee Rhiannon questions the motives of Tony Abbott’s careful reaction.

Greens spokesperson on women Senator Lee Rhiannon has questioned whether women can trust opposition leader Tony Abbott’s promise today that he will heed the advice of technical experts on abortion drugs and has called on him to definitively declare his position on women’s right to access the full range of reproductive health procedures.

“Abbott’s assurance that he will accept the advice of technical experts cannot be trusted if you look at his history during the Howard years,” Senator Rhiannon said.

With the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee expected to recommend today that RU486 and Misoprostol be listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (the PBS) Australian Greens are calling on Federal Health Minister Tanya Plibersek to move quickly to ensure Australian women have access to affordable medical abortion.

Background paper on the issue available here: http://tiny.cc/al93vw