spoke to Peter about the interpretation of the 1967 Abortion JA: Why do you think the Director of Public Prosecutions decided to back off?
PH: They didn't think they have a chance of succeeding with the prosecution. I have always felt that my defence was strong never broken the regulations.
They tried to test a statistical argument and they failed. That is, that it is always two to three times safer to have an abortion than to continue a pregnancy. They couldn't refute this fa They've tried to whitewash this. They've tried Socialist Challenge. 11 March 1982 page 6.
General's decision, but how can he say there was a medical justification written on the form when there was There could be a bill to change the grounds for abortion as a result of this - but I don't think it would be successful even with this parliament.
If they can't get changes like time - I have press you have claimed that the means that you can operate aborthink that abortion on demand exto say | recanted..! paign has always argued that a I am not surprised by the Attorney can do unis limits through parliament then they women doing what they want to do although there's no doubt they'll keep to, controlling their lives.
tion on demand. But do you really someone else would have had to PH: I don't believe that any law will Women have to control bodies. But I can't persuade other only women themselves I think the law gives abortion on demand - if it does not challenge me and prosecute me in what I am doing.
•TOr - having children when they want JA: How do you feel about those who criticised you for taking the prosecutions PH: I did what I felt | had to do - it's that just my job. If I hadn't done it then because the wedge would have been When in the next session of parlia- and without naming the woman. abortion bill (as I'm sure they will do) then they'll do it on the basis that I got away with too much.
But our side is stronger as a result of this. In my mailbag the pressure on this issue has been huge. I have had fetting me what they resong groups telling me what they're doing will all be saved up on our side. JA: Do you see the outcome of this as a victory for our side? PH: It's only a partial victory in the sense that the powers-that-be have not admitted openly what they are doing. It's a real Kafka situation an the aim is to confuse Hower, I would have thought notification for regulations abortions is in tatters regarding for the form to be filled in. They claim - there is literally no point in asking ed they needed it to collect statistics but they could do this another way