An Australian Liberal senator has defended the US Supreme Court’s overturn of the Roe v Wade ruling that largely legalised abortion, saying the decision is “profoundly empowering” for democracy despite being largely “misunderstood” by the public as the ruling reignites the abortion debate in Australia.
It comes after the US Supreme Court, in a 6-3 ruling powered by its conservative majority, upheld a Mississippi law that bans abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy.
Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has criticised the overturn, calling it “a setback for women and their right to control their own bodies and their lives.”
The sentiment was echoed by the federal Minister for Women Katy Gallagher, who told ABC Radio National on Monday the ruling reinforces “the need to remain vigilant because hard-fought-for wins before our Parliament can be taken away easily.”…