This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/11/julia-gillard-abortion-coalition-election
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Julia Gillard's abortion comments prompt war of words with Coalition | Julia Gillard's abortion comments prompt war of words with Coalition |
| (4 months later) | |
| A war of words has broken out on the future direction of Australia’s abortion laws, with prime minister Julia Gillard declaring “we don’t want to live in an Australia where abortion again becomes the political plaything of men who think they know better.” | A war of words has broken out on the future direction of Australia’s abortion laws, with prime minister Julia Gillard declaring “we don’t want to live in an Australia where abortion again becomes the political plaything of men who think they know better.” |
| The prime minister attempted to shrug off continuing leadership speculation and a shadow campaign by Kevin Rudd by going on the offensive over abortion rights and other women’s policy issues in her strongest public intervention since her now famous misogyny speech. | The prime minister attempted to shrug off continuing leadership speculation and a shadow campaign by Kevin Rudd by going on the offensive over abortion rights and other women’s policy issues in her strongest public intervention since her now famous misogyny speech. |
| But Gillard’s declaration provoked a swift and emphatic response from the Coalition. Deputy liberal leader Julie Bishop called on Gillard to apologise for waging a “gender war to divide the nation.” | But Gillard’s declaration provoked a swift and emphatic response from the Coalition. Deputy liberal leader Julie Bishop called on Gillard to apologise for waging a “gender war to divide the nation.” |
| Bishop argued Gillard was becoming desperate. “Julia Gillard knows full well the Coalition won’t change the abortion law. For her to raise this as an election issue is as offensive as it is false, and she should apologise,” Bishop told Guardian Australia on Tuesday afternoon. | Bishop argued Gillard was becoming desperate. “Julia Gillard knows full well the Coalition won’t change the abortion law. For her to raise this as an election issue is as offensive as it is false, and she should apologise,” Bishop told Guardian Australia on Tuesday afternoon. |
| Victorian Liberal MP Kelly O’Dwyer also took to Twitter to voice her objections. “Disgusted by PM's comments - divisive gutter politics.” | Victorian Liberal MP Kelly O’Dwyer also took to Twitter to voice her objections. “Disgusted by PM's comments - divisive gutter politics.” |
| At a “women for Gillard” function in Sydney, the prime minister elevated the election contest on 14 September to a referendum on the future of women’s voices and influences in political life - implying that women would be out of the picture under a government led by Tony Abbott. | At a “women for Gillard” function in Sydney, the prime minister elevated the election contest on 14 September to a referendum on the future of women’s voices and influences in political life - implying that women would be out of the picture under a government led by Tony Abbott. |
| “On that day, 14 September, we are going to make a big decision as a nation. It’s a decision about whether, once again, we will banish women’s voices from our political life,” Gillard said. | “On that day, 14 September, we are going to make a big decision as a nation. It’s a decision about whether, once again, we will banish women’s voices from our political life,” Gillard said. |
| Referencing a tendency for the Opposition leader and some frontbenchers to wear blue ties, Gillard said: “I invite you to imagine it. A prime minister – a man in a blue tie – who goes on holidays to be replaced by a man in a blue tie.” | Referencing a tendency for the Opposition leader and some frontbenchers to wear blue ties, Gillard said: “I invite you to imagine it. A prime minister – a man in a blue tie – who goes on holidays to be replaced by a man in a blue tie.” |
| “A treasurer, who delivers a budget wearing a blue tie, to be supported by a finance minister – another man in a blue tie. Women once again banished from the centre of Australia’s political life.” | “A treasurer, who delivers a budget wearing a blue tie, to be supported by a finance minister – another man in a blue tie. Women once again banished from the centre of Australia’s political life.” |
| The blue tie reference attracted a strong and mostly negative response among politics watchers on Twitter on Tuesday afternoon, many of whom pointed out a penchant for blue ties was solidly bipartisan. | The blue tie reference attracted a strong and mostly negative response among politics watchers on Twitter on Tuesday afternoon, many of whom pointed out a penchant for blue ties was solidly bipartisan. |
| Gillard declared in her speech that “women’s equality has always been hard-fought for, and we’re entering a hard fight again.” | Gillard declared in her speech that “women’s equality has always been hard-fought for, and we’re entering a hard fight again.” |
| “But I know I’ve got so many women to share it with in this room and beyond. I’m energised for the fight, thank you for coming along.” | “But I know I’ve got so many women to share it with in this room and beyond. I’m energised for the fight, thank you for coming along.” |
| The prime minister recently told Guardian Australia in an interview that she was concerned that abortion rights was back on the political agenda in Australia. | The prime minister recently told Guardian Australia in an interview that she was concerned that abortion rights was back on the political agenda in Australia. |
| The Democratic Labor Party Senator John Madigan has signalled he wants to legislate to ban “gender selection abortions". If current opinion polling proves to be accurate, Madigan could find himself in a king-making role in the Senate when the membership of the upper house rolls over in July 2014. | The Democratic Labor Party Senator John Madigan has signalled he wants to legislate to ban “gender selection abortions". If current opinion polling proves to be accurate, Madigan could find himself in a king-making role in the Senate when the membership of the upper house rolls over in July 2014. |
| Gillard said in her interview with Guardian Australia: “I think it is always possible for abortion to become a political issue and it always disturbs me when I see the start of what looks like voices once again coming out in the debate to try to create community sentiment so that women no longer have the ability to govern their own bodies and make their own choices.” | Gillard said in her interview with Guardian Australia: “I think it is always possible for abortion to become a political issue and it always disturbs me when I see the start of what looks like voices once again coming out in the debate to try to create community sentiment so that women no longer have the ability to govern their own bodies and make their own choices.” |
| “I don’t think as women we can ever rest easy on this, we always have to be mindful there are forces in Australian political debate and Australian political life who would seek to impose the alternative: no choice for women,” she said. | “I don’t think as women we can ever rest easy on this, we always have to be mindful there are forces in Australian political debate and Australian political life who would seek to impose the alternative: no choice for women,” she said. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |