Victorian State MP Bernie Finn says there is no acceptable reason for abortion

[JRoo]

It seems another crackpot MP is showing his true colours and good to see the premier has distanced himself from this individuals comments;

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/s...table-reason-for-abortion-20140318-34z33.html

Update: Premier Denis Napthine has distanced himself from controversial comments made by upper house MP Bernie Finn who claimed women who are raped should not have abortions.

Mr Napthine described Mr Finn's statement as "inappropriate".

"I totally disagree with Bernie Finn’s comments. I think that they are inappropriate, I disagree with them, and we’ve had a debate on abortion in the Victorian parliament where people according to their conscience voted and that abortion issue was settled through that process."

He reiterated the government would not be introducing any legislation to change the state’s abortion laws.

Mr Finn, who is well known for his controversial views, said in an interview that many rapists and paedophiles were using abortion to destroy evidence of their crimes.

He told the Werribee-Hoppers Crossing-Point Cook Star newspaper that "in this day and age", there is no acceptable reason for having an abortion.

"In this day and age, no, I don't think there is any acceptable reason for having an abortion," Mr Finn is quoted as saying.

"In years gone by when they needed to kill the baby to save the mother then it might have been acceptable, but in today's world I think that's a very 1950s argument."

In a claim likely to create further headaches for Dr Napthine, the Liberal MP, who organises the annual pro-life protest March for the Babies, said abortion in cases of rape was like being raped a second time and was being used as defence by paedophiles and rapists.

"I think many rapists and particularly paedophiles use abortion as a defence, they use it as a way to destroy the evidence," he said.

"I've spoken to a number of women who have been raped and then had abortions and they told me that from their point of view having an abortion was like being raped a second time.

"I don't think abortion is acceptable under any circumstances and I don't see why we should be killing babies for the crime of the father."

Jo Wainer from Reproductive Choice Australia called on the Liberal Party to disendorse Mr Finn, saying only a tiny minority of the community shared his extreme views.

"He has always taken quite an extreme view which has no sympathy at all for women’s situations. He is out of touch with general public opinion. I think it would be in the intertests of the Liberal Party to disendorse him,’’ Dr Wainer said.

Women’s Health Victoria executive director Rita Butera said abortion was a safe, legal and important service for Victorian women, and people should not be distracted by Mr Finn's comments.

The comments are reminiscent of those of US Republican senate hopeful Todd Akin, who said "legitimate rape" is unlikely to cause pregnancy.

"If it's legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down," Mr Akin said.

Debate about women's reproductive rights has re-entered the political spectrum, with balance-of-power MP Geoff Shaw drafting a private member's bill to changes the state's abortion laws.

Mr Shaw told The Age last month that he hoped his bill would go before parliament in the next few months.

Mr Shaw's bill is understood to scrap the requirement for doctors who are conscientious objectors to abortion to provide a referral to another medical practitioner without an objection.

Last year, Dr Napthine moved to quell fears from pro-choice movement by releasing a video saying he nor his government had any intention of introducing legislation to reduce a woman's right to choose.

"As Premier, neither I, nor my government, have any intention of introducing legislation, that would reduce a woman's right to choose," he said.

But many said the video raised more questions than it answered and called on the Premier to block Mr Shaw's plans introduce the bill.

with Adam Carey

 

[pazza]

It seems another crackpot MP is showing his true colours and good to see the premier has distanced himself from this individuals comments;

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/s...table-reason-for-abortion-20140318-34z33.html

Bernie Finn.

A failed broadcaster from 3aw sitting in the houses of power.

Sad really.

 

[dymot]

Bernie Finn.

A failed broadcaster from 3aw sitting in the houses of power.

Sad really.

Better than being failed activist sitting in the house of power.

 

[cartwright]

Good for napthine to quickly distance himself. Finn can crawl back into whatever hole he was hiding in.

 

[knife]

It seems another crackpot MP is showing his true colours and good to see the premier has distanced himself from this individuals comments;

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/s...table-reason-for-abortion-20140318-34z33.html

Need to get a handle on these evangelical nuts getting pre-selected and into parliament (ala Geoff Shaw)

How a guy like Finn gets factionally slotted into the number 1 spot on the senate ticket for west metro, despite his extreme views on abortion and capital punishment, the lack of ability for him to ever become more than a backbencher and ahead of a plethora of smarter and better qualified candidates is disgraceful.

 

[Dont be a lemon]

What a * wit piece of s**t.

 

[mighty tiges]

 

[cartwright]

Hey Bernie,

xo, women of Victoria.

 

[Ned_Flanders]

please scomo defend Bernie, intervene with the Vic Branch and take it over

please scomo defend Bernie, intervene with the Vic Branch and take it over

please scomo defend Bernie, intervene with the Vic Branch and take it over

 

[mill204]

Bernie Finn.

A failed broadcaster from 3aw sitting in the houses of power.

Sad really.

He wasn't a broadcaster. He was a button pusher. Hinch said he wasn't very good at that either.

He is a poorly educated extreme-right Catholic who insists on forcing his zealotry down our throats. Any self-respecting party would have disendorsed the blaggard years ago.

 

[Ned_Flanders]

He wasn't a broadcaster. He was a button pusher. Hinch said he wasn't very good at that either.

He is a poorly educated extreme-right Catholic who insists on forcing his zealotry down our throats. Any self-respecting party would have disendorsed the blaggard years ago.

he actually was a broadcaster

when Hinch left AK to return to AW, Finn replaced him (pretty sure it was until SEN took over)

 

[mill204]

he actually was a broadcaster

when Hinch left AK to return to AW, Finn replaced him (pretty sure it was until SEN took over)

Must have been an interim measure. Cos most of his time he was just a panel operator. Mainly on the evening shift with Mansfield and Brady, I'm told.

We can thank Kennett for getting him pre-selected due to the grub ingratiating himself to him.

Anyhow, he's a poorly educated religious zealot and the Liberals have done themselves no favours by tolerating him for so long.

 

[footscray1973]

How is it even requiring a motion? Unilaterly cut him adrift immediately. Surely a competent, secure, decisive leader... ah, I see.

 

[Ned_Flanders]

How is it even requiring a motion? Unilaterly cut him adrift immediately. Surely a competent, secure, decisive leader... ah, I see.

they have to follow due process - it would be unfair if they did not

 

[footscray1973]

they have to follow due process - it would be unfair if they did not

Yeah, I know, I just wanted to express my contempt for Guy. Easier target every day though, so diminishing difficulty is ruining that pass-time.

 

[mill204]

Yeah, I know, I just wanted to express my contempt for Guy. Easier target every day though, so diminishing difficulty is ruining that pass-time.

Guy and his predecessors could/should have acted much earlier. He's been a boil on the party's ass that should have been lanced years ago. Weak!

 

[Ballarat Bob]

So you get done for DUI and Guy asks for your resignation straight away but Finn goes through the party to get expelled ? What is it with Liberals putting forward these religious crackpot's time and time again and then defending them saying it's a broad church etc. The Pentecostal mafia within the party is bad enough let alone these old school Catholic's.

 

[HairyO]

please scomo defend Bernie, intervene with the Vic Branch and take it over

please scomo defend Bernie, intervene with the Vic Branch and take it over

please scomo defend Bernie, intervene with the Vic Branch and take it over

Scomo wont be the leader in 6 days. I assume the Libs are just stupid enough to go for Dutton.

 

[Johnny Bananas]

Between this and the Tim Smith expulsion, the Liberals look a bit better purely through addition by subtraction. Though they're still led by an incompetent clown who fraternises with criminals.

 

[Gough]

Been booted although I'm sure Dutts will welcome him back with open arms if he gets the top job.

 

[Gralin]

see ya campaigner

 

[mill204]

Finn is an uneducated religious zealot This clown has been spitting out vile tweets for years. Had the Liberals had any balls they'd have sent him packing years ago.

 

[Gralin]

Finn is an uneducated religious zealot This clown has been spitting out vile tweets for years. Had the Liberals had any balls they'd have sent him packing years ago.

Uneducated? Was he home schooled?

 

[mill204]

Uneducated? Was he home schooled?

Point taken. Pleased he's finally had his comeuppance. Although a life time Parliamentary Pension awaits him.

Just by the bye.

 

[John Smith92]

see ya campaigner

Yeah discipline is the problem here mate. Think it all you like, just don't say it out loud where it can damage the pristine liberal brand