Newsletter February 2017 PO Box 2257, Yokine South, WA, 6060 State Election Edition www.facebook.com/CoalitionforHumanLife [email protected] 2017 Election: Where do we stand on life issues? It is our duty as citizens to always be die from abortion: a large-scale massa- portant these issues are to you and how shaping our nation for the better. An cre of innocents happening in our own they will affect your vote. important way we fulfill this duty is by neighbourhoods. Meanwhile, the eld- 2. Support pro-life candidates by offering using our vote wisely, in order that we erly and disabled are under threat from to hand out ‘how to vote’ flyers. provide our community with strong the prospect of euthanasia legislation 3. Talk to friends and family members moral leadership. re-entering Parliament. These issues about life issues, and how they should af- are truly ‘life and death’. A good leader will always stand up for fect how we vote. basic human rights, especially the There are several simple, practical 4. Vote pro-life! The table below gives indi- rights of those who are the most vul- ways YOU can make your voice heard: cation on the policies of different parties nerable. In our state, the most basic regarding life issues (note: not all parties 1. Call or write to your local candidates right of many people - the right to life - standing for election in WA are shown. For (both lower and upper house) to ask is under direct attack every day. This more detailed and up-to-date information, them where they stand on abortion year, around 8 000 infants in WA will go to fava.org.au) . and euthanasia, and explain how im- Party Where do they stand on abortion? Where do they stand on euthanasia? Australian Christians* Pro-Life Pro-Life Family First Pro-Life Pro-life Liberal Party Allows conscience vote. Not supportive of changes to Allows conscience vote. No commitment to introduce current law changes to current law National Party Allows conscience vote. Not supportive of changes to Allows conscience vote. No commitment to introduce current law changes to current law Labor Allows conscience vote. Not supportive of changes to Allows conscience vote. Mark McGowan has indicated he current law will introduce euthanasia legislation if elected One Nation (Unknown) Supportive of euthanasia The Greens Strongly supportive of abortion on demand Strongly supportive of euthanasia and assisted suicide The following individual MPs have a pro-life record: Peter Abetz MLA (Lib for Southern River), Vince Catania MLA (Nat for North West Cen- tral), Murray Cowper MLA (Lib for Murray-Wellington), Graham Jacobs MLA (Lib for Eyre), John Quigley MLA (ALP for Butler), Margaret Quirk MLA (ALP for Girrawheen), Michelle Roberts MLA (ALP for Midland), Ken Baston MLC (Lib for Mining and Pastoral Region), Peter Collier MLC (Lib for North Metro), Jim Chown MLC (Lib for Agricultural Region), Kate Doust MLC (ALP for South Metro), Phil Edman MLC (Lib for South Metro), Donna Faragher MLC (Lib for East Metro), Nick Goiran MLC (Lib for South Metro), Nigel Hallet MLC (SFF for South West), Alyssa Haden MLC (Lib for East Metro), Colin Holt MLC (Nat for South West), Michael Mischin MLC (Lib for North Metro), Helen Morton MLC (Lib for East Metro), Simon O’Brien MLC (Lib for South Metro). *Dwight Randall, the President of the Coalition for the Defence of Human Life, is running for Parliament in the forthcoming state election. He is standing as a candidate for Australian Christians in the Upper House (Legislative Council) region of North Metropolitan. In the light of his long- standing and unwavering commitment to the sanctity of human life, the Coalition supports his candidacy. ACL Pre-Election Events: Meet Party Leaders and Local Candidates In the leadup to the State Election, the Australian Christian The ACL is also hosting a series of local ‘meet your candidate’ Lobby is hosting a special event featuring our current Premier, events throughout the Perth metro area. These forums (held Colin Barnett, and also the Opposition leader, Mark McGowan. in Bateman, Belmont, Bicton, Forrestfield, and Wanneroo), will As well as a personal address by each of the leaders, the fo- provide an opportunity to ‘get to know’ your local candidate rum will feature a questions and answer time on specific is- and ask direct questions on the issues which matter most to sues. All are welcome. you. For more information, visit acl.org.au/mic2017 This is a free event, however if you wish to attend please regis- ter at acl.org.au/mic2017 WA Legislation: Foetal Homicide reform a very small step forward This article was first published in the De- Matthew Silvestro was convicted of dan- cember 17 edition of News Weekly. To gerous driving causing grievous bodily view the full article and many others, harm, and was ultimately fined $8,000 please visit www.newsweekly.com.au and disqualified from driving for two years. The charge was based solely on In the final sitting weeks of 2016 the the injuries sustained by Vanessa De West Australian Parliament passed the Bari. Her unborn child was not consid- Restraining Orders and Related Legisla- ered a person by the law despite the tion Amendment (Family Violence) Bill obvious fact that the baby would other- 2016, which introduces a range of legal wise have survived had it simply been reforms, including changes to the Crimi- naturally born at that stage of the preg- nal Code (WA) to deal with violence nancy (minus the injuries that were sus- against women that harms their unborn tained in utero). child... The perceived inadequacy of the punish- Why was this reform considered in the ment in this case led to community out- first place? The Criminal Code in Western rage... Australia does not recognise an unborn clude harm to a pregnant woman’s child as a human being until “it has com- The amendment that has been intro- unborn child as being an injury to the pletely proceeded in a living state from duced by the Barnett Government, and pregnant woman. the body of its mother”. As a result, a passed by the WA Parliament, amends person in Western Australia cannot be the Criminal Code definitions of “bodily We should not lose sight of the fact criminally responsible for homicide harm” and “grievous bodily harm” to that this reform is a step in the right where they cause injuries to an unborn clarify that a reference to causing bodily direction. It will likely result in stronger child and the child is stillborn as a result. harm or grievous bodily harm to a per- sentences in cases like that of Silvestro In such cases the law simply does not son includes, if the person is a pregnant as a result of the courts being required recognise that the unborn child is a woman, a reference to causing harm to to have regard to the loss of the child “person capable of being killed”. the woman’s unborn child or the loss of when assessing the overall injuries sus- the pregnancy. tained by the mother. It was the Silvestro case in 2012 that bought this issue to public attention and … Back in 2012 when the plan to change The reforms would not, however, have led to the commitment by the Barnett the law was announced, then WA Attor- resulted in any difference to the actual Government to introduce foetal homi- ney-General Christian Porter said that it charges that were laid against Silvestro cide law reform. The offender in that was “intended that the laws would cre- (or the other similar cases that have case (Matthew Silvestro) drove the car ate a new offence of death or grievous occurred in Western Australia in recent that he was travelling in with his eight- bodily harm to an unborn child through years), as an injury to the mother was months pregnant former partner an unlawful assault on its mother”. already recognised in the offence that (Vanessa De Bari) and their two-year-old was charged. The only way to ensure child directly into the path of another This is not what has been done. Instead, that an offender is held criminally re- vehicle. Vanessa De Bari suffered serious the Barnett Government has chosen to sponsible for the specific act of causing and permanent injuries, and the unborn extend the existing definitions of bodily death or injury to an unborn child is to child that she was carrying died in utero. harm and grievous bodily harm to in- create a new criminal offence that views this outcome as an injury sepa- rate and distinct from any injury sus- New Documentary ‘Hush’ Exposing the Risks of Abortion tained by the mother... ‘Hush’ is a unique and challenging docu- ‘Hush’ is a great way to start a conversa- The reforms introduced by the WA mentary film about abortion. Hosted by a tion around abortion, and to raise Government are welcome (and over- pro-choice woman, it is a detailed inves- awareness of the issues which surround due) reforms. They strengthen and tigation into the effects of abortion on it. women who terminate their pregnancy. clarify the existing criminal law with For find more information on the film Coming from a pro-woman perspective, regards to injuries caused to an unborn and to see a trailer, go to it uncovers the real physical and emo- child in utero. However, this is not a www.hushfilm.com tional consequences women face after foetal homicide law. The amended laws abortion – and also questions why Copies of the movie can also be rented or do not recognise the harm to an un- women aren’t being told about these.