A loophole in Australia’s consumer protection laws have allowed pregnancy counsellors to say whatever they like in their advertising to pregnant women – women seeking advice and support at a time of crisis. But things could be different tomorrow if legislation currently before Federal Parliament succeeds.
When GetUp and Reproductive Choice Australia began this campaign last year, thousands of you signed the petition to stop the deception. Now a new coalition of cross-party senators is working to close this loophole, and they need public support. Whatever our personal views on abortion, this legislation guarantees everyone the right to make an informed choice.
Phone, fax or email the key decision-makers inside the major parties with the power to see the cross-party Bill succeed – the Health Minister and Shadow Health Minister – and take a stand for truth in advertising. Tell them you support this legislation wholeheartedly, and want their support too.
CONTACT DETAILS:
Health Minister Tony Abbott
Phone: (02) 9977 6411
Fax: (02) 9977 8715
Email: [email protected]
Shadow Health Minister Nicola Roxon
Phone: (03) 9687 7355
Fax: (03) 9689 6523
Email: [email protected]
And if you’d like to report back their response, please email us on [email protected]. Thanks for taking action!
A FEW TALKING POINTS:
It’s just fair and commonsense to extend to pregnant women the same protections from deceptive advertising all Australians consumers expect. The Pregnancy Counselling (Truth in Advertising) Bill 2006 was introduced into Parliament in January, co-sponsored by Senators Natasha Stott-Despoja (Democrats), Judith Troeth (Liberal), Carol Brown (Labor) and Kerry Nettle (Greens) to do just that.
What it does:
-Respects every organisation’s right to counsel as they choose.
-Respects every individual’s right to choose what service they contact.
-Requires all agencies to disclose in their advertising whether or not they refer for termination of pregnancy.
What it doesn’t do:
-Compel agencies to refer for abortion or face fines.
-Deny public funding to organisations that don’t refer for abortion.
-Deny women the information they need to make an informed choice.
-A national study has found 81% of women believe pregnancy counselling services should be able to refer clients to all options: parenthood, adoption or termination. Without transparency, we don’t know if the new Pregnancy Helpline will do this or not.
-The lack of regulation is especially unfair to women in difficult circumstances, such as those who must travel long distances to meet with a counsellor. Even the police have been confused about where to refer victims of sexual assault.
-The call for transparency has never been more timely, with Federal Health Minister Tony Abbott’s $15.5 million Pregnancy Helpline, which launched on May 1.
The Latest on this CampaignStop Deceiving Women
Wednesday, 13 June 2007
Why does transparency in pregnancy counselling matter? Today, the
cross-party alliance of women senators is hosting a forum inside
Parliament House to explore this issue, and bolster additional support
for the Truth in Advertising Bill.
Senators Natasha Stott Despoja (Dems), Judith Troeth (Lib), Carol Brown
(Lab), and Kerry Nettle (Greens) are working together to promote and
ensure informed choice for women and their loved ones – but they need
our help to build momentum and support inside the major parties.
Call, email or fax the Minister and Shadow Minister for Health now to express your support for this Bill.
It’s about closing a legal loophole that currently allows service
providers to engage in false advertising if they don’t charge for their
advice.
It’s about protecting the basic right to seek help, information and
support that best meets and respects a person’s individual needs, rather
than being subjected to a counsellor’s own undisclosed agenda.
It just takes a minute to write an email, but building this support inside the major parties is crucial. Thanks for speaking up!