Recreational Whinge: This past week, the Australian Senator Steve Fielding (from the Family First party…that’s a RW for another day!) stated in the Senate that he was concerned some women would choose to get pregnant, receive parental leave benefits from their employers (as part of new government legislation granting these rights) and then have a late term abortion and keep the money.

Does he really believe the rubbish that comes out of his mouth?  Is it possible he’s had a serious trauma to his head recently?

Yes, it’s realistic to seriously look at ways in which people might try to rort the system.  Unfortunately, it’s a fact of life in our society because quite a few people find ways of cheating systems all the time.  Sometimes they do this out of desperation.  Sometimes they’re just being plain unethical.  There’s lots we could talk about with this and I do respect that legislators need to consider certain possibilities.

But to think that women will get pregnant and then terminate simply for money?  This statement of his goes down as one of the most offensive things I’ve heard from any politician this year (and there’s been a lot…and not just from politicians)!

Senator Fielding, shame on you!

The Positive Spin: I am absolutely thrilled by the backlash he has received for this comment.  It’s great to see the public debate on this appearing in the media.  It’s getting people to think about what they say, why they say it and what harm can be caused when one doesn’t think critically.

It’s also wonderful to know that the parental leave legislation is going through, although I have mixed opinions about parts of it.  Overall I say, “It’s about bloody time.”