PREGNANCY COUNSELLING - FALSE PROVIDERS

IN THIS CAMPAIGN What You Can Do Opinion Pieces Speeches Questions History of the Bill Read our ACTION PLAN on Pregnancy Counselling [pdf] SIGN OUR PETITION Sign our petition calling for regulation of pregnancy counselling Sign the petition online Download a printable version RELATED CAMPAIGNS Women's Rights Watch Reproductive Rights Separation of Church and State Senate Watch

It has been two years since Senator Stott Despoja introduced her original private member’s bill, the Transparent Advertising and Notification of Pregnancy Counselling Services Bill 2005, into the Senate to regulate pregnancy counselling services to prevent misleading and deceptive advertising or notification of pregnancy counselling services. In June 2007 following the introduction of the cross-party Pregnancy Counselling (Truth in Advertising) Bill 2006 to the Senate last December, which was co-sponsored by Senator Troeth, Senator Nettle and Senator Carol Brown, all Senators had the opportunity to finally debate this issue. This bill does not single out particular organisations, or force those organisations to provide referrals for terminations, it simply requires all pregnancy counselling services, whether they are anti-choice or pro-choice, to be up-front and truthful in their advertising. The Democrats are proud of the support this bill has gained, and the genuine commitment it has received from organisations, such as Reproductive Choice Australia, Children by Choice, Marie Stopes International, the Australian Reproductive Health Alliance and GetUp – just to name a few, which continue to voice their opposition to the way certain pregnancy counselling services operate and campaign for truth in advertising in this area. Women have the right to know what sort of pregnancy counselling organisation they are contacting when they seek information or advice on these sensitive issues.  This bill should be seen as the vital first step in the legislative and policy debate about pregnancy counselling services in Australia, and is yet another example of women working together in an attempt to ensure that women’s reproductive rights are protected and pregnancy counselling services are honest and upfront about the services they offer. Passing this bill would put Australia at the forefront of women's rights, highlighting the commitment to not only transparency in advertising, but also the regulation of pregnancy counselling services.  The Bill has yet to be voted on. What you can do! Sign the Democrats' petition calling for regulation of pregnancy counselling Sign the petition online, or Download a printable version of the petition Read more on the history of the Bill. Opinion Pieces Women's rights are top of the agenda - Senator Natasha Stott Despoja The Advertiser, 27 February 2006 Making counselling honest on the abortion option - Senator Natasha Stott Despoja The Age, 22 February 2006 Speeches Taking note of answers to Questions without Notice - pregnancy counselling - Senator Natasha Stott Despoja 2 March 2006 Matters of Public Interest - Women: Reproductive Rights 4 August 2004 Questions without Notice Senator Stott Despoja asks the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Ageing 2 March 2006 Senator Stott Despoja asks the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Ageing 7 November 2005 Questions on Notice Senator Stott Despoja asks the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Ageing 2 December 2005 Senator Stott Despoja asks the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Ageing 9 August 2005