Nelson opposes changes to foreign aid abortion ban
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Brendan Nelson says the ban should stay. (ABC News)
Federal Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson says he is against a push to overturn a ban on Australian foreign aid paying for abortion advice.
Government MPs are debating whether the Foreign Affairs Minister should lift the ban imposed by the former Coalition Government 12 years ago.
The Greens want it removed but Dr Nelson says it should stay.
"We should also be supporting the education of women about their fertility," he said.
"We should also be be prepared to support - where it is appropriate - access to birth control in the developing world where women are free to make their choices, but I don't believe that Australian aid money should be used to support abortion."
'Works both ways'
The Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance, Bob McMullan, says the bans have stopped Australia contributing to a range of services on abortion and contraception.
"If we overturn those guidelines, then we would just see what evolved," he said.
"It would bring us into line with every country in the world except the United States."
Liberal MP Mal Washer has told Radio National the bans should go for a range of reasons, including ending the death rate for women who have unsafe or illegal abortions.
He also says there are benefits that opponents of the reform have not taken into consideration.
"Some countries with totalitarian governments impose abortion on women for various reasons that I would find totally unacceptable," he said.
"In Thailand, Cambodia, China and other areas, if women could seek advice, maybe they wouldn't have an abortion, so it works both ways."
