The politics of abortion

Yes, we all know about Emily's List and the pro-abortion lobby within the Labor Party. This is not hidden. All it simply means is that the Labor Party is honest where the Liberal Party is not.

So the words 'Liberal Party', 'honest' and 'abortion' do not belong in the same sentence, unless you are pointing out the dishonesty in this situation.

This is important to understand. In just a few month's time Victorians who are pro-life will essentially have to choose between whether they want an honest pro-abortion party running the joint instead of a dishonest pro-abortion one.

Granted, it's not really a great choice. But the news that Family First is going to ruthlessly play havoc with its preferences means that some consolation can be gained from the sleepless nights this will cause the cowardly collective of conservative MPs. And I've spent enough time around cowardly conservative politicians to know that the thought of losing will cause peptic ulcers. Sometimes this is even enough to perform a minor miracle and strengthen the backbone.

If Liberal MPs don't stand up on abortion, Family First will have no choice but to proceed with its plan. And there is no doubt that some of these politicians will lose their seats. The government will change hands as well.

Of course, the Liberal Party will huffily claim that it deserves pro-life votes. And it will sook about Family First's 'alleged' lack of integrity.

But the Liberal Party has no integrity when it comes to action on abortion. Just remember those two numbers: 0 and 508. And the Liberal Party certainly has no integrity when it comes to honesty on abortion either.

So it has no leg to stand on, precisely because it has taken no stand on abortion at all.

Of course, those Liberal MPs who have had a backbone should receive Family First preferences. But there's not many who have actually done anything while they have been in the corridors of power.

And time is running out for those who have been hiding in the background. But they will have to make their position known when Geoff Shaw's bill is debated and voted upon. Of course, if this bill is sidelined it will only be because the Liberal government allows this to happen. And that will make Family First's preference decisions that much easier to make.

The best part about Family First's announcement is that for the first time in a long time the pro-life movement will be playing to its political strengths.

Pro-lifers might not currently have the power to elect a 'pro-life' party into office. But they do have the power to toss equivocal politicians out. And they should do this, even if the new guy is just as bad as the old, simply for the message it sends.