Reverend David Palmer, the convenor of the Presbyterian Church of Victoria's Church and Nation Committee, said that politics was a major factor in delaying the decision to allow abortion to be decriminalised in the State which other Christians also agreed.
Mr. Palmer told Christian Today Australia that the decision was deferred by the Victorian Premier, John Brumby, to the Victorian Law Reform Commission (VLRC) given an election was forthcoming for both the State and the Federal government.
"I think that the whole matter is being postponed because there are a couple of elections in Victoria for State seats (with the retirement of Steve Bracks and John Thwaites) and also there is a Federal Election that is going to be in November and I think …. that would be the main reason for postponing the decision."
It was also clear from the Age, a newspaper publication, that Mr. Brumby has signalled his intention to decriminalise abortion as early as next year, by saying that the existing law on abortion was out of sync with community standards.
"Our existing laws are out of step with community sentiment," he said. "It is essential that the law reflects contemporary community standards and that it is simple, clear and transparent."
Mr. Palmer went further telling Christian Today Australia that the VLRC would most likely approve decriminalising abortion given its recent report on the issue of assisted reproduction released in June this year. He also said the VLRC was the cover with which the Premier needed to justify his decision.
"… He (Mr. Brumby) needs somebody to provide him justification for doing that so this is what really lies behind sending it to the VLRC because that is the sort of government body … thought to provide independent advice."
"In actual fact by judging from the VLRC report on the report of assisted reproductive technology option which came out several months ago the VLRC would certainly recommend the decriminalising of abortion I think we can probably expect the parliament will approve that."
The Australian Christian Lobby through its Victorian chief-of-staff, Robert Ward, has called the Victorian's government push for abortion law changes away from the heat of a Federal election a 'cynical exercise.'