On Thursday Cory Bernardi, the Australian Conservatives senator, moved a motion in the Senate to criticise White Ribbon Australia for its pro-choice stance.
Such a position is hardly surprising from the staunchly conservative Bernardi but what is extremely surprising is that the Minister for Women, Senator Michaelia Cash, crossed the floor to vote for it. Her vote wasn’t enough and the motion was defeated 31 to 21.
Women’s Agenda was told the Government supports women exercising choice in relation to reproductive rights and neither the Minister nor the Government wish to change any laws in any way that would diminish reproductive rights.
It still begs the question – why did the Minister for Women support Bernardi’s motion which called for senators to express their concerns to White Ribbon Australia about it’s advocacy for access to abortion?
