Socially conservative Labor senator Helen Polley changes tune on abortion

One of Labor’s socially conservative stalwarts has backed Bill Shorten’s plan to make the procedure more readily available.

Labor Senator Helen Polley. Picture: Supplied

One of Labor’s socially conservative stalwarts has had something akin to a Damascus conversion on the issue of abortion and backed Bill Shorten’s plan to make the procedure more readily available.

Tasmanian senator Helen Polley, one of the few remaining social conservatives in federal Labor, told The Australian she supported Labor’s push to pressure the states to provide more abortion services in public hospitals, including in her home state of Tasmania where there is no clinics for terminations

Senator Polley, who voted in Senate against legalising same-sex marriage and the RU486 drug, said Labor’s policy would improve the health services for women.

Labor will pressure NSW and South Australia to decriminalise abortion if it wins power.

“I support Labor’s position,” Senator Polley said in a statement.

“This is about working with other states to ensure every woman has access to the health services where and when they need them.

“I’d hope the states and territories want the same thing too. Particularly here in Tassie because the Liberals are failing Tasmanian women.”

Under the “reproductive health strategy” unveiled yesterday by Deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek, Labor will demand more abortion services when negotiating the next funding agreement with the states.

Tanya Plibersek. Picture: AAP

It will also launch a review into the Medicare rebate for the RU486 drug, arguing women who access the drug are on average out of pocket $600 from appointments and tests.

Senator Polley, a Catholic, railed against allowing the Therapeutic Goods Administration to legalise the RU486 drug when she spoke in parliament on a conscience vote on the bill in 2006.

She said the drug was dangerous for women.

“Let us get one thing very clear here: RU486 is not a simple drug like paracetamol. This drug will expel human life, and its consequences on the health of women are varied and dependent upon constant medical supervision,” Senator Polley told the Senate in 2006.

“The question that springs to my mind is: why are we considering allowing the TGA to make a decision about a drug that kills?

“It is a drug that ends life and has the potential to harm another. Is that safe? Is that effective? Is that quality? This is not merely a medical matter and therefore the decision regarding the use of RU486 should not be left to the TGA.”

Senator Polley told The Australian during the 2017 same-sex marriage survey she was being pressured by Labor figures to pretend she was in favour of changing the Marriage Act.

“I’ve been told that I could be responsible for losing the next federal election,” she said in 2017.

“It would be much easier for my life, in some respects, in dealing with my colleagues to change my position and support same-sex marriage. There is pressure from outside, there is pressure from friends, from colleagues, from staffers.”

The Australian is not suggesting Senator Polley has also faced internal pressure to soften her views on abortion.