http://www.thepunch.com.au/tags/abortion/ Politics, political opinion, world news, sports news and the latest news and views updated live, daily on The Punch - Australia's best conversation. en Copyright 2012 The Punch penberthyd@newsltd.com.au penberthyd@newsltd.com.au Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 Politics, opinion, world news, sports news, latest news, views, Barack Obama, Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard, Nathan Rees, Malcolm Turnbull, Peter Garrett, Barnaby Joyce, Australian, federal politics, opinion polls, election, The Punch, thepunch, punch ExpressionEngine 1.6.7 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 15 http://www.thepunch.com.au/images/punch-logo-rss.png http://www.thepunch.com.au/ 144 70 Politics, political opinion, world news, sports news and the latest news and views updated live, daily on The Punch - Australia's best conversation. Search The Punch keywords http://www.thepunch.com.au/search/ http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/pregnancy-health-warnings-dont-lead-to-abortion/ Pull up the drawbridge, cue the statement about “inconclusive evidence’’ - another pesky health warning is about to get in the way of making dosh. The Federal Government is considering product warning labels on alcohol bottles as part of a strategy to curb the rates of foetal alcohol spectrum disorder, something a dozen countries around the world already do. The industry has, unsurprisingly, come out against the prospect of “cigarette-style” warning labels - because it may apparently cause a flurry of terminations from guilt-wracked women. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/pregnancy-health-warnings-dont-lead-to-abortion/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/pregnancy-health-warnings-dont-lead-to-abortion/#item8269 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 Imagine if the above headline was: “In support of the wholesale slaughter of babies.” Examine your reaction to it. Your reaction is the problem. Now, there are only two credible reactions to reading something like this. One is that it’s some kind of poorly-focused black humour, that the author is being deliberately provocative (and not very funny). The other is visceral moral outrage. The very idea that we should do such a thing. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-abortion-debate-goes-where-its-never-gone-before/ Imagine if the above headline was: “In support of the wholesale slaughter of babies.” Examine your reaction to it. Your reaction is the problem. Now, there are only two credible reactions to reading something like this. One is that it’s some kind of poorly-focused black humour, that the author is being deliberately provocative (and not very funny). The other is visceral moral outrage. The very idea that we should do such a thing. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-abortion-debate-goes-where-its-never-gone-before/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-abortion-debate-goes-where-its-never-gone-before/#item7933 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 Imagine if the above headline was: “In support of the wholesale slaughter of babies.” Examine your reaction to it. Your reaction is the problem. Now, there are only two credible reactions to reading something like this. One is that it’s some kind of poorly-focused black humour, that the author is being deliberately provocative (and not very funny). The other is visceral moral outrage. The very idea that we should do such a thing. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Im-labor-im-pro-life-and-im-no-political-hypocrite/ I am extremely proud to be a member of the Australian Labor Party. A party that is committed to pricing carbon, that is increasing superannuation, and that will soon introduce Australia’s first National Disability Scheme. I was proud when we started building the Education Revolution, apologised to our Indigenous brothers and sisters for the pain and suffering that previous Government’s have subjected them to, and when we introduced paid maternity leave. November 24, 2007 was the day I will always remember as the day the people of Australia voted against inequality in the work place and, for as long as I live and breathe, I will fight against any party that tries to remove Australians’ rights at work. I am also pro-life. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Im-labor-im-pro-life-and-im-no-political-hypocrite/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Im-labor-im-pro-life-and-im-no-political-hypocrite/#item7621 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 Imagine if the above headline was: “In support of the wholesale slaughter of babies.” Examine your reaction to it. Your reaction is the problem. Now, there are only two credible reactions to reading something like this. One is that it’s some kind of poorly-focused black humour, that the author is being deliberately provocative (and not very funny). The other is visceral moral outrage. The very idea that we should do such a thing. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/beware-the-pro-lifers-doing-hard-labor-on-abortion/ Labor for Life may sound like a North Korean punishment but it is, in fact, a fringe group that apparently departs quite radically from Labor policy. They want to see an ‘end’ to abortion, a position which is closer to that of the Australian Christian Lobby (the ACL has endorsed them in a newsletter) than those of the Liberal or Labor Party. On their Facebook site, they take what could be a sly dig at Opposition Leader Tony Abbott’s view that abortion should be “safe, legal and rare” with links to a poster that reads: “Anti-abolitionists of the 19th Century said they just wanted to keep slavery ‘safe, legal and rare’.” penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/beware-the-pro-lifers-doing-hard-labor-on-abortion/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/beware-the-pro-lifers-doing-hard-labor-on-abortion/#item7590 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 Imagine if the above headline was: “In support of the wholesale slaughter of babies.” Examine your reaction to it. Your reaction is the problem. Now, there are only two credible reactions to reading something like this. One is that it’s some kind of poorly-focused black humour, that the author is being deliberately provocative (and not very funny). The other is visceral moral outrage. The very idea that we should do such a thing. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Sometimes-youve-just-got-to-go-with-your-gut-instinct/ When I was pregnant with my second child, the 19 week ultrasound brought potentially devastating news. Our child had a growth on the lung which could kill them. At that stage, doctors were unsure what would happen. The growth could get bigger, squashing internal organs and killing the baby. If that happened, they could induce the baby at about 26 weeks so doctors could try to operate. Or it may not grow any bigger and the baby could have it removed after birth. News that a couple had the wrong twin aborted at 32 weeks when one was diagnosed with a serious heart defect brought these memories flooding back. This poor couple ended up losing both children, which is horrific for all involved. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Sometimes-youve-just-got-to-go-with-your-gut-instinct/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Sometimes-youve-just-got-to-go-with-your-gut-instinct/#item7234 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 Imagine if the above headline was: “In support of the wholesale slaughter of babies.” Examine your reaction to it. Your reaction is the problem. Now, there are only two credible reactions to reading something like this. One is that it’s some kind of poorly-focused black humour, that the author is being deliberately provocative (and not very funny). The other is visceral moral outrage. The very idea that we should do such a thing. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/festival-of-obvious-ideas-3-slash-parlimentary-terms/ Welcome to the second day of the Punch Festival of Obvious Ideas, our salute to stuff that should be said. Here, we have a look at why we need to force some politicians to earlier elections - and no, it’s not about who you think. Babies torn apart then pieced back together, or left on a shelf to die. A cover up of mass medication in the water, poisoning us all. Random drug tests for kids. Welcome to the weird world of Upper House MLC Ann Bressington. Ms Bressington, who only got 32 primary votes but surfed into the SA Parliament on the ever-popular Nick Xenophon’s coattails. Ms Bressington, who set out on an anti-drugs platform but quickly became a one-woman lightning rod for paranoid conspiracy theorists. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/festival-of-obvious-ideas-3-slash-parlimentary-terms/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/festival-of-obvious-ideas-3-slash-parlimentary-terms/#item6943 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 Imagine if the above headline was: “In support of the wholesale slaughter of babies.” Examine your reaction to it. Your reaction is the problem. Now, there are only two credible reactions to reading something like this. One is that it’s some kind of poorly-focused black humour, that the author is being deliberately provocative (and not very funny). The other is visceral moral outrage. The very idea that we should do such a thing. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/check-your-facts-about-pro-life/ When a friend told me I was mentioned in The Punch, I looked forward to reading the article because I associated The Punch with Punch, the British weekly magazine of humour.  Instead of wit, I found the article by Tanja Kovac in The Punch yet another inaccurate diatribe against pro-lifers. Tanja asks where are Archbishop Hart, Margaret Tighe and Babette Francis? Archbishop Hart is very possibly on his knees praying for you and for the many social welfare agencies of his Archdiocese.  Tanja, just look up the phone book under “Catholic” and you will see the long list of activities undertaken by the Catholic Church to help those in need. Ever heard of “The Vinnies” (the St. Vincent de Paul Society)?  Or Mother Teresa’s “Missionaries of Charity”? As for Margaret Tighe, like me she is probably working at a computer replying to tiresome articles from those who don’t bother to get their facts straight. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/check-your-facts-about-pro-life/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/check-your-facts-about-pro-life/#item6159 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 Imagine if the above headline was: “In support of the wholesale slaughter of babies.” Examine your reaction to it. Your reaction is the problem. Now, there are only two credible reactions to reading something like this. One is that it’s some kind of poorly-focused black humour, that the author is being deliberately provocative (and not very funny). The other is visceral moral outrage. The very idea that we should do such a thing. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-abortion-debate-has-gone-beyond-slogans/ Most people agree that we, as a society, want to decrease the number of abortions. Like any grand statement, the means to getting to this end will be the judge of our seriousness and principles. Tory Shepherd is right to point out our goals cannot be achieved through “guilt, hate and fear mongering”. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-abortion-debate-has-gone-beyond-slogans/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-abortion-debate-has-gone-beyond-slogans/#item5242 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 Imagine if the above headline was: “In support of the wholesale slaughter of babies.” Examine your reaction to it. Your reaction is the problem. Now, there are only two credible reactions to reading something like this. One is that it’s some kind of poorly-focused black humour, that the author is being deliberately provocative (and not very funny). The other is visceral moral outrage. The very idea that we should do such a thing. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/unborn-human-rights-101/ The Australian Family Association responds to Tory Shepherd’s Punch column on abortion. Ah pro-choice warriors, methinks thou dost protest too much. The sheer passion and vigour with which you attack anyone who gives off even the vaguest whiff of pro-life sentiment casts doubt upon the substance of your convictions. Shout those evil medievalists down! Throw names, mud, whatever – just make sure you get ‘em good! penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/unborn-human-rights-101/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/unborn-human-rights-101/#item5214 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 Imagine if the above headline was: “In support of the wholesale slaughter of babies.” Examine your reaction to it. Your reaction is the problem. Now, there are only two credible reactions to reading something like this. One is that it’s some kind of poorly-focused black humour, that the author is being deliberately provocative (and not very funny). The other is visceral moral outrage. The very idea that we should do such a thing. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/sex-ed-plus-contraception-equals-fewer-abortions/ All those people who think sex is just about procreation must be doing it wrong. Every time a conservative talks about outlawing abortion, or making terminations harder to get, the background message is that sex is dirty and evil and the sinners must bear the consequences. Because they are never simultaneously arguing for better sex education, or improved access to contraception. They either ignore how the pregnancy happened in the first place, or talk about abstinence.  That this medieval Catholic view of the world persists is startling. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/sex-ed-plus-contraception-equals-fewer-abortions/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/sex-ed-plus-contraception-equals-fewer-abortions/#item5191 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 Imagine if the above headline was: “In support of the wholesale slaughter of babies.” Examine your reaction to it. Your reaction is the problem. Now, there are only two credible reactions to reading something like this. One is that it’s some kind of poorly-focused black humour, that the author is being deliberately provocative (and not very funny). The other is visceral moral outrage. The very idea that we should do such a thing.