Natasha Stott Despoja (SA, Australian Democrats) Share this | Hansard source

My question is addressed to the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator Santoro. It relates to pregnancy counselling and, specifically, today’s announcement and the claim by government that the hotline and pregnancy counselling services will be non-directive, as they should be. Is the minister aware of a number of claims that current government funded pregnancy counselling services have provided misleading information or have failed to provide—in fact, refused to provide—referrals for terminations? Will the government now move to regulate pregnancy counselling by making these pregnancy counselling services subject to laws that are similar to the Trade Practices Act so that the services are actually prohibited from engaging in any deceptive conduct or misleading advertising? Given today’s announcement, will the government also ensure the regulation of these services?