Abbott defends abortion drug criticism

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has defended his position on the controversial abortion drug RU486. Source: AAP

OPPOSITION Leader Tony Abbott has defended his position on the controversial abortion drug RU486 while he was a health minister in the Howard government.

Mr Abbott was responding to comments from blogger Mia Freedman that his attempts to keep a ban on the drug as minister remained an issue for some female voters.

"Because he's never addressed that on the record ... it sort of lingered and festered like this bit of a suspicious issue among women," Ms Freedman told ABC radio on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard invited Ms Freedman and other popular female bloggers to Kirribilli House in Sydney on Monday night.

Mr Abbott was full of praise for the popular blogger when quizzed by reporters in Sydney about her comments on Tuesday.

"I have a lot of time for Mia - I am an avid reader of her column," he said.

"But with respect, I did not do what you have put to me."

As health minister, he did not receive any applications regarding RU486, Mr Abbott said.

"Had any such application come before me, I would have dealt with it on the basis of the science and the expert advice."

Mr Abbott lost the ministerial power to approve RU486 in 2006 to the Therapeutic Goods Administration in a parliamentary conscience vote.

Health Minister Tanya Plibersek backed Ms Freedman's call for Mr Abbott to clarify his views on abortion and RU486.

"When he was health minister he was very opposed to it... he sought to protect ministerial veto," she told ABC TV.

"He said abortion was the 'easy way out' "

"If he has changed his mind on any of those things he should be clear about that."

Ms Plibersek said no woman wants to have an abortion and that it's a traumatic decision to make.

She said Australian women and men generally believe it is a woman's right to chose.

"If Tony Abbott wants to be prime minister he should be able to say one way or the other if he believes that or not," Ms Plibersek said.

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