The leader of the Government in the Senate received backlash this morning following his remarks on Channel 10’s The Project.
During an interview with panellist Mia Freedman, Senator Abetz was asked whether he agreed with controversial American surgeon Dr Angela Lanfranchi who says abortion can lead to breast cancer.
“I think the studies, and I think they date back from the 1950s, assert that there is a link between abortion and breast cancer,” he said on television.
President for the Australian Medical Association (AMA) said on Friday: “I think he should stay out of these debates if you’re quoting evidence from the 1950s, I think that’s in line with the attitudes he’s putting forward.”
The Breast Cancer Network Australia also condemned the Senator’s remarks. “These sort of discussions can cause harm to women, unnecessary harm and unnecessary concern about a link between abortion and breast cancer that simply doesn’t exist,” the network’s chief executive, Maxine Morand, told the ABC.
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Senator Abetz later claimed he hadn’t had the chance to finish answering the question on The Project, but Mia quickly shut this argument down on Twitter.
“Sigh. No, @SenatorAbetz was not ‘cut off’ by me on @theprojecttv The only editing was for repetition in his answers,” she tweeted.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott said he had spoken to Senator Abetz, who was “a little sheepish about it all”.
“I don’t think you’ll find that kind of thing being said again,” Prime Minister Abbott said.
