A Matter of Conscience The role of conscience votes in legislating bioethics in Australia

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A Matter of Conscience? The role of conscience
votes in legislating bioethics in Australia

• Kerry Ross
• University of Wollongong
• Susan Dodds
• University of Wollongong
• Rachel Ankeny
• University of Sydney

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Introduction Conforming to the party line in
Australian politics
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Conscience Votes in Australia Medical Practice
Sex Discrimination
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Conscience Votes in Australia Euthanasia
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Conscience votes in Australia embryos and cloning
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Conscience Votes in Australia revoking
ministerial approval for access to RU486
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Conclusions

• Where there is a powerful prime minister,
  opportunities for conscience votes diminish
• Womens participation appears to influence
  conscience vote outcomes in somewhat unexpected
  ways
• Appeals to use of conscience votes need not be
  presumed to reflect a commitment to improved
  deliberation or accountability

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Big-Picture Bioethics Policy-Making and Liberal
Democracy

• For further information
• Australian Research Council Discovery Project
  website
• http//uow.edu.au/arts/research/bigpicturebioethic
  s/
• Kerrry Ross kr04_at_uow.edu.au
• Susan Dodds sdodds_at_uow.edu.au
• Rachel Ankeny rankeny_at_science.usyd.edu.au