as usual the right- to -lifers are distorting facts about abortion to warm us all up to their theme of baby murderering. This is what they say to women who have been deceived by their false advertising and inadvertently ring them for information about pregnancy options. Other notable lies are that abortion causes breast cancer, that you'll get a mental illness if you have a one and that you might not be able to have children when you want one. Yes this is just a range of 'non-biased' incormation you are likley to get if you call them. This on top of the lie that there are 1000,000 abortions in Australia a year. Why shouldn't women and men be told that organisations refusing to advertise as right-to-life will also refuse to tell you the truth about your options. Why shouldn't we be told that you do not need a 'referral' from them if your decision is to have an abortion. You can go direct to the service provider. Leslie Cannold is absolutely on the button when she says women and the men who support them deserve to know which organisations deal in facts and which in religous ideology so that we have a real choice of taxpayer funded information on which we make important decisions.

I also agree with Dr Leslie Cannold and Senator Natasha Scott Despoja and other women parliamentarians that federally funded telephone counselling services should say they are not allowed to mention abortion as an option for unwanted pregnancy.

As a tax payer I object to paying to support a propaganda service that is totally against my belief system.

I feel great sympathy for the women who need to rely on such a biased service that is sneakily reducing their choices and forcing them to keep children they don't want and can't afford.

How on Earth can anyone be against Truth in advertising with something as important as an unplanned pregnancy?

What a load of hateful rubbish has been written by some.

Wouldn't surprise me in the least if many of the anti-abortionist brigade are also the ones who squeal the loudest about social security for single mothers, neglected kids graffiting on their fences and young criminals and 'poor' parenting causing such a burden on tax payers money. And woe betide you if you cry for help, because then you just have a 'victim' mentality.

I want to know how many children are being fostered by those who go on and on most stridently about abortion being murder. If you truly believe that then put up your hand and say "no pregnancy needs to be terminated, I'll be right there with you if you indeed find that raising a child to adulthood is impossible for you." And don't forget some of that Christian love and keep the judgement part to your good Lord.

This article is about advertising for pregnancy counselling. Not abortion. Pregnant women have a right to know who is doing the counselling. It works both ways. Not every woman with an unplanned pregnancy immediately thinks Abortion.

I've put a request to start a new general thread in regarding what I perceive as a conflict of interest for our health minister based on recent comments by the pope regarding politicians and abortion.

Whilst our health minister may not have the direct power to outlaw abortion he does hold the power to have a significant impact on surrounding issues such as funding, support services etc.

The popes expressed comments would appear to make it virtually impossible for any practicing catholic to act impartially in regard to laws surrounding abortion.

R0bert