Australian politicians respond to US abortion decision – as it happened

Sussan Ley and Jason Clare react to US supreme court decision on abortion rights; Australia to send $1m earthquake relief to Afghanistan; nation records 26 Covid deaths. This blog is now closed

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Sussan Ley: Roe v Wade overturning a backward step for women'

Deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley says the US supreme court's decision to overturn a constitutional right to abortion is a backward step for women in the US".

This has been a step backwards for women in the US. I'm very discomforted by anything that puts a personal and sensitive issue that a woman has to grapple with in many instances, or a family has to grapple with, in the same sentence as criminal.

Thank God we are a country here in Australia where abortion is not an issue that divides the Labor party and Liberal party.

I'm thinking at the moment for the women who live in some of these states that are basically being told today that if you want to have an abortion then get on a bus and travel a couple of hundred kilometres.