Congratulations

FROM GET UP

Congratulations on the passing of the RU486 Private Member's Bill. This means that the medical experts at the TGA - and not Tony Abbott, failed Roman Catholic priest - will determine whether Australian women will have access to this important drug.

On Monday 28 November last year we began a campaign to get politics out of medicine, and let the TGA – not Health Minister Tony Abbott – decide on the availability of the drug RU486.

It seemed improbable back then that a proposed Democrats amendment would end up forcing a Private Member's Bill and conscience votes from both the major parties, and that a ten year old ministerial veto would be thrown off the statute books.

Today that's exactly what's happened.

GetUp members should be proud of the important contribution they have made to this result: 8000 signatures on our national petition, almost 6000 emails sent to MPs and hundreds of last minute phone calls.

Working with Reproductive Choice Australia, we have campaigned hard over weeks and months to make our voices heard – and we have succeeded.

This is an important day for a women's right to choose in Australia, but it's also an important day for the democratic process. Today we have all been reminded of the power of participation, and it's a lesson I hope we don't forget.

Get Up