Abortion: Where do they stand in Western Victoria?

Anti-choice groups are working hard to ensure they have influence in the next Victorian parliament - with candidates who would support attacks on existing abortion laws competitive in a number of key lower and upper house races.

Votes on abortion are generally put to personal, rather party votes in parliament - so it's critical to know where the individual candidates in your region stands. That's why Fair Agenda members and partners have done the hard work for you - surveying candidates on where they stand on abortion issues. Click on the headings below to find out where the candidates in your area stand.

NOTE: New analysis shows that a web of party preference deals could see anti-choice parties win the critical 5th seat in Western Victoria -- and take over the balance of power in Victoria's upper house. Click below to find out how you can make sure your vote helps keep these parties out of power.

Western Victoria & anti-choicers in balance of power?

New analysis suggests that the anti-choice party Democratic Labor Party (DLP) could win a critical upper house seat in the Western Victoria region, thanks to preference flows from other parties (read more here). A win in this seat could hand the party balance of power in the next parliament - and a terrifying opportunity to launch attacks on our abortion laws.

The parties whose preferences will support the DLP in this region (covering Geelong, Horsham, Hamilton, Warrnambool, Ballarat) are: (source)

- The Labor Party, People Power Victoria, Shooters and Fishers Party, Australian Christians, Rise Up Australia.

Want to keep these anti-choice parties out of parliament? You can make sure they don't receive your preference by voting for pro-choice candidates below the line.

These are the candidates who told us they're pro-choice in our issue survey:

Candidate	Party	Electorate	Supports the legal right to have an abortion?	Would protect current abortion laws?	Would protect s8?	Supports access zones at clinics?
Jaala Pulford	Labor	Western Victoria	✔	✔	✔	✔
Lloyd Davies	The Greens	Western Victoria Region	✔	✔	✔	✔
Jayden Millard	Australian Sex Party	Western Victoria	✔	✔	✔	✔
Catriona Thoolen	Palmer United Party	Western Victoria	✔	✔	✔	✔
Adrian Whitehead	Save the Planet	Western Region	✔	✔	✔	✔

Note that the Greens and The Sex Party also have a pro-choice party position.

Don't want to support anti-choice candidates?

There are several parties who publicly state they have an anti-abortion position. Including:

Democratic Labor Party (DLP)

The DLP state on their website that they consider Victoria’s abortion laws ‘amongst the worst in the world’.

They would support changes to the Abortion Law Reform Act 2008, and have said if elected they will (amongst other things):

- at the earliest opportunity, introduce a private member’s bill calling for the repeal of s8

- within 6 months, launch a campaign to reform further sections of the Act

Source: http://www.dlp.org.au/blog/amend-victorian-abortion-laws-starting-with-section-8/

Rise Up Australia

State that they are “completely opposed to abortion”.

Source: http://riseupaustraliaparty.com/?page_id=1208

Family First

Have previously stated that they would oppose the decriminalisation of abortion in NSW.

Source: http://www.nswvotes.org.au/policies/index.php?topic_ids=73#question3

Australian Christians

State on their website that they want laws designed to protect foetuses.

Source: http://australianchristians.com.au/values/

All candidate's responses to our reproductive rights survey

The survey responses received from candidates so far are:

Candidate	Party	Electorate	Supports the legal right to have an abortion?	Would protect current abortion laws?	Would protect s8?	Supports access zones at clinics?
Martin Foley	Labor	Albert Park	✔	✔	✔	No position
David Collis	The Greens	Albert Park	✔	✔	✔	✔
Jill Hennessy	Labor	Altona District	✔	✔	✔	No position
Brenton Peake	The Greens	Bellarine	✔	✔	✔	✔
Lisa Neville MP	Labor	Bellarine	✔	✔	✔	✔
Jennifer Podesta	Labor	Benambra	✔	✔	✔	✔
Jacinta Allan	Labor	Bendigo East	✔	✔	✔	✔
Maree Edwards	Labor	Bendio West	✔	✔	✔	✔
Sean Mulcahy	The Greens	Bentleigh	✔	✔	✔	✔
Chandra Ojha	Independent	Bentleigh	✔	✕	✕	✔
Bill Pemberton	The Greens	Box Hill	✔	✔	✔	✔
Margaret Beavis	The Greens	Brighton	✔	✔	✔	✔
Louise Crawford	Labor	Brighton	✔	✔	✔	✔
Jaime de Loma-Osorio Ricon	The Greens	Broadmeadows	✔	✔	✔	✔
Sonia Smith	The Nationals	Buninyong	✔	✔	✔	✔
Tony Goodfellow	The Greens	Buninyong	✔	✔	✔	✔
Tim Read	The Greens	Brunswick	✔	✔	✔	✔
Eleni Arapoglou	Australian Christians	Bulleen	✕	✕	✕	✔
Adam Rundell	Labor Party	Bulleen	✔	✔	✔	✔
Ben Cronly	The Greens	Bulleen	✔	✔	✔	✔
Beck Stuart	The Greens	Burwood	✔	✔	✔	✔
Gavin Ryan	Labor	Burwood	✔	✔	✔	✔
Sonya Kilkenny	Labor	Carrum	✔	✔	✔	✔
Tim Baxter	The Greens	Caulfield	✔	✔	✔	✔
Josh Burns	Labor	Caulfield	✔	✔	✔	✔
Hong Lim	Labor Party	Clarinda	✔	✔	✔	✔
Jude Perera	Labor Party	Cranbourne	✔	✔	✔	✔
Lesley Fielding	Labor	Croydon	✔	✔	✔	✔
Gabrielle Williams	Labor	Dandenong	✔	✔	✔	✔
Mary Wooldridge	Liberal	Eastern metropolitan	✔	✔	✔	No position
Brenton Edgecombe	Animal Justice Party	Eastern Metropolitan	✔	✔	✔	✔
Samantha Dunn	The Greens	Eastern Metropolitan	✔	✔	✔	✔
Dimity Paul	Labor	Eastern Metropolitan Region	✔	✔	✔	✔
Shaun Leane	Labor	Eastern Metropolitan region	✔	✔	✔	✔
Ash Belsar	Australian Christians	Eastern Region	✕	✕	✕	✕
Douglas Leitch	Australian Sex Party	Eastern Victoria	✔	✔	✔	✔
Kristin Bacon	Animal Justice Party	Eastern Victoria	✔	✔	✔	✕
Danny O'Brien	The Nationals	Eastern Victoria	✔	✕	✕	No position
Marie Sellstrom	The Greens	Eildon	✔	✔	✔	✔
Bruce Argyle	Independent	Eildon	✔	✔	✔	✔
Liezl Shnookal	The Greens	Eltham District	✔	✔	✔	✔
Ashley Waite	The Greens	Essendon	✔	✔	✔	✔
Clare Malcolm	Labor	Euroa	✔	✔	✔	✔
Peter Harris	Labor	Evelyn	✔	✔	✔	✔
Matt Posetti	Labor	Ferntree Gully	✔	✔	✔	✔
Marsha Thomson	Labor Party	Footscray	✔	✔	✔	✔
Rod Swift	The Greens	Footscray	✔	✔	✔	✔
Brewis Atkinson	The Greens	Forest Hill	✔	✔	✔	✔
Anthoony Wallace	Australian Christian Party	Frankston	✕	✕	✕	✕
Paul Edbrooke	Labor	Frankston	✔	✔	✔	✔
Sarah Hathway	Socialist Alliance	Geelong	✔	✔	✔	✔
Michael Schilling	The Greens Victoria	Gembrook	✔	✔	✔	✔
John McNally	Labor	Hawthorn	✔	✕	✔	✔
Sam Long	The Greens	Inner West	✔	✔	✔	✔
Lynn Frankes	The Greens	Kew	✔	✔	✔	✔
Martin Pakula	Labor	Keysborough	✔	✔	✔	✔
Mary-Anne Thomas	Labor	Macedon	✔	✔	✔	✔
Jennifer Kanis	Labor	Melbourne	✔	✔	✔	✔
Ellen Sandell	The Greens	Melbourne	✔	✔	✔	✔
Don Nardella	Labor	Melton	✔	✔	✔	✔
Lily D'Ambrosio	Labor Party	Mill Park	✔	✔	✔	✔
Alex Breskin	The Greens	Mordialloc	✔	✔	✔	✔
Matthew McLaren	Greens	Mornington	✔	✔	✔	✔
Rebecca Wright	Labor	Mornington	✔	✔	✔	✔
Tracie Lund	Independent	Morwell	✔	✔	✔	✔
Daniel Caffrey	The Greens	Morwell	✔	✔	✔	✔
Jadon Mintern	Labor Party	Morwell	✔	✔	✔	✔
Perky Raj Khangure	The Greens	Mount Waverley	✔	✔	✔	✔
Daniel Andrews	Labor	Mulgrave	✔	✔	✔	✕
Josh Fergeus	The Greens	Mulgrave	✔	✔	✔	✔
Carolyn Gleixner	Labor	Nepean	✔	✔	✔	✔
Bryony Edwards	Save the Planet	Northcote	✔	✔	✔	✔
Fiona Richardson	Labor	Northcote	✔	✔	✔	✔
Trent McCarthy	The Greens	Northcote	✔	✔	✔	✔
Fiona Patten	Australian Sex Party	Northern Metro	✔	✔	✔	✔
Jenny Mikakos MP	Labor	Northern Metro Region	✔	✔	✔	✔
Peter Allan	Independent	Northern Metro Region	✔	✔	✔	✔
Bruce Poon	Animal Justice Party	Northern Metropolitan	✔	✔	✔	✔
steve herbert	Labor	Northern Region	✔	✕	✔	✔
Michelle Goldsmith	The Greens	Northern Victoria	✔	✔	✔	✔
Jenny O'Connor	The Greens	Northern Victoria	✔	✔	✔	✔
Steve Dimopoulos	Labor	Oakleigh	✔	✔	✔	✔
Steven Merriel	The Greens	Oakleigh	✔	✔	✔	✔
Jamie McCaffrey	The Greens	Ovens Valley	✔	✔	✔	✔
Gail Cholosznecki	Labor	Ovens Valley	✔	✔	✔	✔
Sean Brocklehurst	Socialist Alliance	Pascoe Vale	✔	✔	✔	✔
Dr Eleonora Gullone	Animal Justice Party	Prahran	✔	✔	✔	✔
Neil Pharaoh	Labor	Prahran	✔	✔	✔	✔
Rose Ljubicic	The Greens	Preston	✔	✔	✔	✔
Lola Currie	Animal Justice Party	regional Victoria	✔	✔	✔	✔
Richard Wynne	Labor Party	Richmond	✔	✔	✔	✔
Nevena Spirovska	Australian Sex Party	Richmond	✔	✔	✔	✔
Kathleen Maltzahn	The Greens	Richmond	✔	✔	✔	✔
Tamika Hicks	Labor	Rowville	✔	✔	✔	✔
Adam McBeth	The Greens	Sandringham	✔	✔	✔	✔
Christina Zigouras	Labor	Sandringham	✔	✔	✔	✔
Sami Greiss	Australian Christians	SE Metro - Melbourne	✕	✕	✕	✕
Greg Barr	The Nationals	Shepparton	✔	✔	✔	No position
Jamie Overend	Animal Justice Party	South Barwon	✔	✔	✔	✔
Lisa Ashdowne	The Greens	South Barwon	✔	✔	✔	✔
Nina Springle	The Greens	South East Metropolitan	✔	✔	✔	✔
Martin Leahy	Sex Party	South East Metropolitan	✔	✔	✔	✔
Thomas Campbell	The Greens	South-West Coast	✔	✔	✔	✔
Dr Francesca Collins	Australian Sex Party	Southern Metropolitan	✔	✔	✔	✔
Fiona Stewart	Voluntary Euthanasia Party	Southern Metropolitan	✔	✔	✔	✔
Sue Pennicuik	The Greens	Southern Metropolitan	✔	✔	✔	✔
Nyree Walshe	Animal Justice party	Southern Metropolitan Region	✔	✔	✔	✔
James Searle	The Greens	Southern Metropolitan Region	✔	✔	✔	✔
Philip Dalidakis	Labor	Southern Metropolitan Region	✔	✔	✔	✔
Fiona McRostie	Animal Justice Party	Southern Region	✔	✔	✔	✔
Alex Schlotzer	The Greens	Sydenham	✔	✔	✔	✔
Jacinta Ermacora	Labor	Upper House Western Victoria	✔	✔	✔	✔
Richard Cranston	The Greens	Warrandyte	✔	✔	✔	✔
Liam Hastie	Australian Sex Party	Wendouree	✔	✔	✔	✔
Alice Barnes	The Greens	Wendouree	✔	✔	✔	✔
Sharon Knight	Labor	Wendouree	✔	✔	✔	✔
Tim Pallas	Labor	Werribee	✔	✔	✔	✔
Bro Sheffield-Brotherton	The Greens	Werribee	✔	✔	✔	✔
Justine Curatolo	Animal Justice Party	Western Metro	✔	✔	✔	✔
Colleen Hartland	The Greens	Western Metro	✔	✔	✔	✔
Roy Taylor	Animal Justice Party	Western Metropolitan	✔	✔	✔	✕
Adrian Whitehead	Save the Planet	Western Region	✔	✔	✔	✔
Anne Foster	Australian Christians	Western Regional Victoria	✕	✕	✕	✕
Jayden Millard	Australian Sex Party	Western Victoria	✔	✔	✔	✔
Jaala Pulford	Labor	Western Victoria	✔	✔	✔	✔
Lloyd Davies	The Greens	Western Victoria Region	✔	✔	✔	✔
Catriona Thoolen	Palmer United Party	Western Victoria Region	✔	✔	✔	✔
Wade Noonan	Labor Party	Williamstown	✔	✔	✔	No position
Simon Crawford	The Greens	Williamstown	✔	✔	✔	✔
Danielle Green	Labor	Yan Yean	✔	✔	✔	✔
Daniel Sacchero	The Greens	Yan Yean	✔	✔	✔	✔
Natalie Abboud	The Greens	Yuroke	✔	✔	✔	✔

Note: Louise Asher MP didn't complete the survey; but indicated that her view could be determined from her voting record (in favour of the 2008 abortion law reform).
Note: The Palmer United Party advised that they had not yet announced candidates when surveyed.

Party positions

Two parties indicated that they have a party position on abortion. These positions are outlined below:

Party	Supports the legal right to have an abortion?	Would vote to protect current abortion laws?	Would vote to protect s8?	Supports the introduction of access zones at clinics?
Australian Sex Party - Victoria	✔	✔	✔	✔
The Greens	✔	✔	✔	✔

In the marginal lower house seats...

See which of the lead candidates in Victoria's most marginal seats we've heard from...

Seat	Lead candidates	Party	Responded to Fair Agenda survey?	Would they vote to protect current abortion laws?	Public position? Or contact details so you can ask them
Albert Park
	Martin Foley	Labor	Yes	✔
	Shannon Eeles	Liberal	No		Facebook \| Twitter \| Email
Bellarine
	Lisa Neville	Labor	Yes	✔
	Ron Nelson	Liberal	No		Facebook \| Twitter \| Email
Bendigo East
	Jacinta Allan	Labor	Yes	✔
	Greg Bickley	Liberal	No		Facebook \| Twitter \| Email
Bendigo West
	Maree Edwards	Labor	Yes	✔
	Michael Langdon	Liberal	No		Facebook \| Twitter \| Email
Bentleigh
	Nick Staikos	Labor	No		Facebook \| Twitter \| Email
	Elizabeth Miller	Liberal	No		Facebook \| Twitter \| Email
Brunswick
	Tim Reid	Greens	Yes	✔
	Jane Garrett	Labor	No		EMILY's List endorsed (pro-choice)
Buninyong
	Sonia Smith	National	Yes	✔
	Geoff Howard	Labor	No		Reported as supporting abortion laws as they are.
	Ben Taylor	Liberal	No		Reported as supporting roll back of abortion laws.
Carrum
	Sonya Kilkenny	Labor	Yes	✔
	Donna Bauer	Liberal	No		Facebook \| Twitter \| Email
Cranbourne
	Jude Perera	Labor	Yes	✔
	Geoff Ablett	Liberal	No		Facebook \| Email
Eltham
	Vicki Ward	Labor	No		EMILY's List endorsed (pro-choice)
	Steven Briffa	Liberal	No		Facebook \| Email
Essendon
	Danny Pearson	Labor	No		Facebook \| Twitter \| Email
	Fred Ackerman	Liberal	No		Facebook \| Email
Forest Hill
	Pauline Richards	Labor	No		Facebook \| Twitter \| Email
	Neil Angus	Liberal	No		Facebook \| Email
Frankston
	Paul Edbrooke	Labor	Yes	✔
	Sean Armistead	Liberal	No		Facebook \| Twitter \| Email
	Geoff Shaw	Independent	No		Previously proposed radical changes to Victoria's abortion laws.
Geelong
	Christine Couzens	Labor	No		EMILY's List endorsed (pro-choice)
	Paula Kontelj	Liberal	No		Facebook \| Twitter \| Email
Ivanhoe
	Anthony Carbines	Labor	No		Facebook \| Twitter \| Email
	Carl Ziebell	Liberal	No		Facebook \| Email
Macedon
	Mary-Anne Thomas	Labor	Yes	✔
	Donna Petrovich	Liberal	No		Voted against abortion law reform in 2008.
Melbourne
	Ellen Sandell	Greens	Yes	✔
	Jennifer Kanis	Labor	Yes	✔
Monbulk
	James Merlino	Labor	No		Voted against abortion law reform in 2008.
	Mark Verschuur	Liberal	No		Facebook \| Email
Mordialloc
	Tim Richardson	Labor	No		Facebook \| Email
	Lorraine Wreford	Liberal	No		Facebook \| Twitter \| Email
Mulgrave
	Daniel Andrews	Labor	Yes	✔
	Robert Davies	Liberal	No		Facebook \| Email
Narre Warren North
	Judith Graley	Labor	No		Facebook \| Email
	Amanda Stapledon	Liberal	No		Facebook \| Email
Niddrie
	Ben Carroll	Labor	No		Facebook \| Twitter \| Email
	Rebecca Gauci Maurici	Liberal	No		Facebook \| Email
Prahran
	Sam Hibbins	Greens	No	*	Facebook \| Twitter \| Email
	Neil Pharaoh	Labor	Yes	✔
	Clem Newton Brown	Liberal	No		Facebook \| Twitter \| Email
Ripon
	Daniel McGlone	Labor	No		Doesn't propose change to legality and availability.
	Louise Staley	Liberal	No		Has said she supports the laws.
South Barwon
	Andy Richards	Labor	No		Facebook \| Twitter \| Email
	Andrew Katos	Liberal	No		Facebook \| Email
Wendouree
	Sharon Knight	Labor	Yes	✔
	Craig Coltman Liberal	Liberal	No		Facebook \| Twitter \| Email
Yan Yean
	Danielle Green	Labor	Yes	✔
	Sam Ozturk	Liberal	No		Facebook \| Twitter \| Email

*Party has a party position on this issue - which would defend the current laws.

Candidates can complete the survey and share their position by contacting Fair Agenda via [email protected]

What are the party positions?

Two parties have indicated they have a party position on this issue through our survey. They are:

Party

Supports the legal right to have an abortion?

Would vote to protect current abortion laws?

Would vote to protect s8?

Supports the introduction of access zones at clinics?

Australian Sex Party - Victoria

✔

The Greens

✔

Labor and the Coalition have both vowed to maintain the state’s existing abortion law if they win the election. But as major party votes on abortion are generally put to a personal, rather than party, vote in parliament - and there are pro- and anti-choice candidates across both major parties -- so knowing where individual candidates stand is critical.

There are several parties who publicly state they have an anti-abortion position. Including:

Democratic Labor Party (DLP)

The DLP state on their website that they consider Victoria’s abortion laws ‘amongst the worst in the world’.

They would support changes to the Abortion Law Reform Act 2008, and have said if elected they will (amongst other things):

- at the earliest opportunity, introduce a private member’s bill calling for the repeal of s8

- within 6 months, launch a campaign to reform further sections of the Act

Source: http://www.dlp.org.au/blog/amend-victorian-abortion-laws-starting-with-section-8/

Rise Up Australia

State that they are “completely opposed to abortion”.

Source: http://riseupaustraliaparty.com/?page_id=1208

Family First

Have previously stated that they would oppose the decriminalisation of abortion in NSW.

Source: http://www.nswvotes.org.au/policies/index.php?topic_ids=73#question3

Australian Christians

State on their website that they want laws designed to protect foetuses.

Source: http://australianchristians.com.au/values/

Recent news reports suggest that the Democratic Labor Party (DLP), Australian Christians and Rise Up Australia parties are also working together to direct their preferences to candidates that would water down abortion laws. (Read more)

UPDATE ON PREFERENCE DEALS: Fairfax analysis suggests anti-choice parties Rise Up Australia and Democratic Labor Party (DLP) have a chance of winning upper house seats in South-Eastern Metropolitan region and Western Victoria, due to preference flows from other parties (read more here).

The parties whose preferences will support these anti-choice parties are: (source)

- Demoratic Labour Party (DLP) in Western Victoria Region - Labor Party, People Power Victoria, Shooters and Fishers Party, Australian Christians, Rise Up Australia.
- Rise Up Australia in South-East Metropolitan Region - People Power Victoria, Australian Christians, Democratic Labour Party (DLP), People Power Victoria, Family First, Shooters and Fishers Party.

Want to keep anti-choice parties out of parliament? You can make sure they don't receive your preference by voting below the line.

The survey questions

We've asked all the lead candidates to answer four simple questions about their voting intention on matters of reproductive rights. These questions ask: do they support the legal right to abortion, would they would vote to protect current abortion laws, and would they support additional measures to protect those trying to access reproductive healthcare.

Q1

Do you support a woman’s legal right to have an abortion?

- Yes, I support the legal right to an abortion

- No, I oppose the legal right to an abortion

Q2

The Victorian Abortion Law Reform Act 2008 (Vic) provides the framework that gives Victorian women the legal right to access an abortion. This law was introduced after significant consultation with the public and health professionals, and under advice from the Victorian Law Reform Commission. If a member of parliament proposed repealing parts of the Abortion Law Reform Act to make it harder for women to access abortion in Victoria, would you vote to retain the current law?

- Yes, I would vote to retain Victoria’s current abortion laws

- No, I would vote or repeal some or all of Victoria’s abortion laws

Q3

Section 8 of the Victorian Abortion Law Reform Act 2008 (Vic) requires that a health professional with a conscientious objection to abortion to refer the woman to a non-objecting health practitioner. If a member of parliament proposed repealing s8 of the Abortion Law Reform Act, would you vote to retain s8?

- Yes, I would vote to retain s8

- No, I would vote to repeal s8

Q4

Women trying to access abortion service providers are often subject to harassment, intimidation, threats and obstruction. In Tasmania, the parliament recently passed laws introducing an 'access zone' around clinics to protect women from this kind of behaviour. Would you support a Bill that introduced a law forbidding any person from harassing, intimidating, threatening, interfering with or obstructing anyone within a certain distance (e.g. 150m) of the entrance to a clinic providing health services that include abortion?

- Yes, I would vote for a Bill creating an access zone

- No, I would not vote for a Bill creating an access zone

Can you help share this critical information with your friends before they had to polls?

Candidates wishing to share their position can contact Fair Agenda via [email protected].

Authorised by Renee Carr, Level 1, 160 Clarence Street, Sydney NSW 2000.