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.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/29/anti-abortion-election-leaflets-being-examined-by-electoral-commission

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Anti-abortion election leaflets being examined by electoral commission Anti-abortion election leaflets being examined by electoral commission
(4 days later)
The Victorian Electoral Commission is investigating who was responsible for the distribution of unauthorised anti-abortion election leaflets carrying a photo of the Victorian opposition spokeswoman for women, Danielle Green.The Victorian Electoral Commission is investigating who was responsible for the distribution of unauthorised anti-abortion election leaflets carrying a photo of the Victorian opposition spokeswoman for women, Danielle Green.
Green, who holds the marginal seat of Yan Yean in the outer northern suburbs of Melbourne, is pro-choice and believes abortion is a decision that should be made “between a woman and her doctor”.Green, who holds the marginal seat of Yan Yean in the outer northern suburbs of Melbourne, is pro-choice and believes abortion is a decision that should be made “between a woman and her doctor”.
The leaflets claim Green supports abortion all the way until birth, is against doctors’ conscientious objections to abortion, and believes in abortions based on gender.The leaflets claim Green supports abortion all the way until birth, is against doctors’ conscientious objections to abortion, and believes in abortions based on gender.
They also claim she believes in partial-birth abortions.They also claim she believes in partial-birth abortions.
“It is so dishonest and deceptive, and whoever has done it doesn’t have the courage or conviction to put their name to it,” Green said. “It has also been done during school holidays when children might see it, and I have had people call me just horrified by finding it in their letterbox.”“It is so dishonest and deceptive, and whoever has done it doesn’t have the courage or conviction to put their name to it,” Green said. “It has also been done during school holidays when children might see it, and I have had people call me just horrified by finding it in their letterbox.”
The ad also features the Victorian parliamentary crest, contains no contact details, and was not authorised by the Victorian Electoral Commission as required for election materials.The ad also features the Victorian parliamentary crest, contains no contact details, and was not authorised by the Victorian Electoral Commission as required for election materials.
“Every day I go to parliament, there are right-to-life protesters at the gate, but at least those people have the courage to identify themselves,” Green said. “The people responsible for these fliers have no morals or ethics, and this was obviously designed to influence the election outcome.”“Every day I go to parliament, there are right-to-life protesters at the gate, but at least those people have the courage to identify themselves,” Green said. “The people responsible for these fliers have no morals or ethics, and this was obviously designed to influence the election outcome.”
She accused Liberal party members of being involved in the incident, an allegation Sam Ozturk, Liberal candidate for Yan Yean and an anti-abortion campaigner, strenuously denied. She accused Liberal party members of being involved in the incident, an allegation Sam Ozturk, Liberal candidate for Yan Yean, strenuously denied.
“I haven’t seen the flyer and so I can’t comment as to its content,” he said. “But we expect people to do the right thing during elections and that means election material must be authorised and have an address on it.”“I haven’t seen the flyer and so I can’t comment as to its content,” he said. “But we expect people to do the right thing during elections and that means election material must be authorised and have an address on it.”
Asked if his party had anything to do with the attack on Green, he said: “Absolutely not, no.”Asked if his party had anything to do with the attack on Green, he said: “Absolutely not, no.”
“We have those rules and regulations for a reason and everyone should follow that.”“We have those rules and regulations for a reason and everyone should follow that.”
With the Victorian election to be held on 29 November, the issue of abortion has continued to come up.With the Victorian election to be held on 29 November, the issue of abortion has continued to come up.
Controversial Frankston MP, Geoff Shaw, was widely criticised by health advocates when he proposed drastic changes to Victoria’s abortion laws in May. Last week, he described his former Liberal party colleagues as “moral cowards” for refusing to debate the issue.Controversial Frankston MP, Geoff Shaw, was widely criticised by health advocates when he proposed drastic changes to Victoria’s abortion laws in May. Last week, he described his former Liberal party colleagues as “moral cowards” for refusing to debate the issue.
This article was amended on 3 October to remove a reference to Sam Ozturk’s views on abortion. He believes current abortion laws should stay the same.