More than 6000 sign accountability and transparency petition

I tabled a petition of 6221 signatures on 11 February, the same day the 2020 session of Parliament commenced.

These signatures had been collected by The Coalition for the Defence of Human Life (CDHL) from WA citizens concerned about the lack of oversight around late term abortions.

Since coming into office in 2017, the current Health Minister, Hon Roger Cook has ordered that the reporting requirement for the panel who assess and grant approval for late term abortions, implemented by Liberal Health Minister Dr Kim Hames, be discontinued.  This means that at this point in time, there is no accountability and transparency around this process.

The submitted petition requests an inquiry into post-20 week abortions performed in Western Australia with a view to

(i) reinstating a robust accountability mechanism with Ministerial oversight and

(ii) ending discrimination against the unborn child.  This petition has now been referred to the Environment and Public Affairs Committee for consideration and report.