Hon Bill English

24 May 2004

Another child sex law needs fixing

The Government should change the law that allows underage girls to have abortions without the knowledge or consent of their parents, says National MP Bill English.

"Labour has all but acknowledged that the law permitting sex for 12 to 16-year-old children is wrong; so how can it justify allowing a girl of the same age to have an abortion without her parents knowing?"

The Care of Children Bill, currently before a select committee, contains a provision allowing underage abortion without parental consent. Section 37 of the Bill goes against the general rule that all medical procedures for people under 16 require parental consent.

"Parents have to sign permission slips for any absence from school, but a school counsellor can send someone's daughter off for an abortion without their knowing," says Mr English.

"Labour's permissive attitude to child sex is unacceptable. The law should be changed so that parents aren't fenced out while children are faced with such a life altering and traumatic decision

ENDS

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