Folks,
From my understanding this refusal was based on the fact that the couple came from an ethnic background where having girl children was of no use to the family group.
The good doctor was just being Australian.

We do not know the nationality of the couple seeking abortion of a female foetus.

Under Article 14 & 15 of the Indian Constitution, and other laws, tests to determine the sex of a foetus have been banned since 1994. This ban was set in place to stop abortion of any female foetus. In addition no abortion can be performed later that 12 weeks.

Sex Selection & Abortion: India
www.loc.gov/law/help/sex-selection/india.php

The above reference is comprehensive as to India's laws relating to abortion, etc.

If the couple are Indian, it would seem that they have come to Australia for the procedure.

There are many valid reasons for an abortion, but capricious and shallow reasons are not.
If Australians pursue abortions for such reasons, they need to grow up. They certainly are not ready to become parents.

"There are many valid reasons for an abortion."

Danielle,
By implication, you're saying that there are numerous invalid reasons for an abortion.

You'd better be careful. You might start people thinking. What are the valid reasons for the intentional  killing of an innocent, defenceless child?

Dan S de Merengue,

You ask what are the valid reasons for an abortion.

When the mother's life or mental health is endangered.
In case of rape or incest.
When the baby will die at birth ... eg. unformed lungs.
When the mother is a child herself.

I'm sure others will be able to contribute more reasons.

I would not have considered having an abortion, but then I have never been faced with any of the issues above. In other cases in which abortions are given, until I had walked in the shoes of these women/girls, I can not comment.

Danielle,
I'm happy to comment, because after all, giving our opinion is what we all do here at OLO. 

Thanks for taking the trouble to answer my question.

What are the valid reasons for the intentional killing of an innocent, defenceless (unborn) child?

"When the mother's life or mental health is endangered."
With the advancement of medical science and technology, the occasions where there is danger to the mother in child birth are next to zero.

"In case of rape ...."
Similarly, the numbers of pregnancies due to rape are minimal because of the trauma associated with rape. 

But I suppose we could make all encompassing laws to ensure that the tail is wagging the dog.

" ... or incest."
Looked at another way, a pregnancy from incest virtually guarantees that the victim will be taken out of the abusive situation. The perpetrators of incest are likely the ones pushing for the abortion so they can hide their guilt. The baby born would likely become an object of affection, a relief to the abuse the victim was previously receiving.

"When the baby will die at birth ... "
We're all going to die sometime. So I'm not sure where this line of thinking is taking us. Probably leads back to the original article. What if the doctors spot that the child has Down Syndrome, or a cleft palate, or is female?

"When the mother is a child herself."
Refer back to the earlier examples.

Dan S de Merengue,

Current Australian Maternal mortality statistics:
11.1 per 100,000 women who gave birth (called the Maternal Mortality Ratio or MMR)
For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women 45.9 deaths per 100,000 who gave birth.

Your argument about pregnancies due to rape echo an old held belief. "Rape does not result in pregnancy", which devolved into condemnation of many innocent women.

Your qualifiers regarding incest .. "virtually guarantees" ... "likely." Do not constitute an argument.

Your statement: "We're all going to die sometime" hardly justifies a new-born suffering, nor the suffering of the mother. There are instances of babies born without a viable brain - what then? Then there are instances of babies born with conditions predicated on short lives of untold pain which medical science cannot alleviate. There are other appalling conditions which deny any quality of life ... No one is talking about cleft-palates ...

As for the last example, who would condemn a child to go through pregnancy, child-birth, and the aftermath. A child getting pregnant is not the result of casual sex, but something far more tragic.