ru486halftime score:filth0 commonsense1

Here's hoping that commonsense goes 2 up at the final hooter.

Billy


Senators vote in favour of TGA control of abortion drug. 09/02/2006. ABC News Online

[This is the print version of story http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200602/s1566353.htm]


Last Update: Thursday, February 9, 2006. 5:02pm (AEDT)

Relieved: Democrats leader Lyn Allison says the Senate vote is a win for women. (Lateline)

Senators vote in favour of TGA control of abortion drug
Senators have voted in favour of a bill removing control over the abortion drug RU486 from the federal health minister.

Senators were given a rare conscience vote on the bill, with 45 voting in favour of the change and 28 voting against.

The bill now heads to the House of Representatives and if passed will end the Health Minister's power to ban RU486 and allow the Therapeutic Goods Administration to make a decision on the drug.

It is the first conscience vote since 2002.

Prime Minister John Howard has already indicated he will not be supporting the bill.

Democrats leader Lyn Allison says the Senate endorsement of the private members bill on the abortion drug RU486 is a win for women and their families.

Senator Allison says today's vote is a great relief.

"In my first speech in this place I said I hoped one day to see a time when women would cross the floor in solidarity on women's issues and that's what's happened today as well," she said.

Liberal backbencher Guy Barnett did not support the bill

"RU486 is in fact a killer drug," he said.

Labor's Claire Moore was a co-sponsor of the bill.

"I think we have an opportunity to achieve great change," she said.




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