Liberal MP doubles down on comments that raped women should be denied abortions – The Age

Victorian Liberal MP Bernie Finn has repeated his view that survivors of rape should not be allowed to have abortions, saying everybody should be given a chance to live.

Finn resigned as the oppositions whip in Victorias upper house on Monday, days after posting on Facebook that he was praying for abortion to be banned in Victoria, including in the case of sexual assault. He has been replaced by Gordon Rich-Phillips, the member for South-Eastern Metropolitan.

Finn has denied that his controversial views on abortion could affect the Liberal Party at Novembers state election.Credit:Jason South

I think that everybody should be given a chance, Finn said on Tuesday when asked if he still believed women who had been raped should be forced to give birth. I dont think its a question of deciding who should live or die, and I think everybody should be given that chance.

Finn said he wasnt preparing to quit the Liberal Party, but his decision to resign as opposition whip was a matter between me and various people in the party.

The Western Metropolitan MP has been a long-time critic of abortion laws, leading the annual March for Babies rally, which calls for the repeal of the 2008 decriminalisation of abortion in Victoria, for years.

After Politico published a leaked draft opinion from the US Supreme Court indicating the Roe v Wade decision, which legalised abortion in the US in 1973, could be overturned, Finn took to his official Facebook page and said: Civilised societies dont kill their young.

So excited the US is on the verge of a major breakthrough to civilisation, Finn wrote. Praying it will come here soon. Killing babies is criminal.

In response to a social media user who said that while they did not support abortion, it should be allowed in extreme cases ie sexual assault, Finn said: Babies should not be killed for the crime of his or her parent.

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy told Finn last week to rein in his social media commentary or quit the parliamentary team to sit as an independent.

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Liberal MP doubles down on comments that raped women should be denied abortions - The Age