Eric Abetz Just Issued The Most Bullshit ‘Clarification’ About Breast Cancer And Abortion You’ve Ever Read

Last night, Minister for Employment and terrifying cyborg from a world without a sun Eric Abetz went on Channel Ten’s The Project for a robust grilling on why he and other senior government figures are attending and speaking at a conference in Victoria organised by ultra-conservative Christian group the World Congress of Families.

He did pretty well, if “said there’s a link between abortion and breast cancer” counts as “doing well”.

So I guess he didn’t actually do that well.

Here’s a clip of what he said, captured by MamaMia.

(Incidentally, Mia Freedman, who’s in the above video, did a stellar job taking the fight to Abetz last night, and has been equally great in calling for politicians to abandon the WCF conference entirely. You can sign a MamaMia-run petition here calling on MPs to boycott the conference here.)

Okay, so first off, according to the World Health Organisation, the US National Cancer Institute, the American Cancer Society, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the Australian Medical Association — among others — abortion does not cause breast cancer. Let’s just clear that little tidbit up right the hell now. You would trust those people to treat your tumour or deliver your child, so it’s probably safe to say their word is slightly more reliable than that of Eric “I are ovaries” Abetz and whatever windblown freaks he hangs out with for fun.

Secondly, Abetz said there were studies “from the 1950s” that found abortion does in fact cause breast cancer. The 1950s, for those playing at home, was almost seventy years ago. Putting aside the fact that medical science moves kind of quickly these days, the 1950s were a very different time. A senior government minister legitimately thinks the entire mainstream medical community can be overruled by some batshit study from a time so long ago that black people weren’t counted in the census.

Anyway. Obviously, going on national TV and claiming a bullshit conspiracy theory is true is a bad look — Abetz is already getting torn to pieces by anyone with a keyboard and two brain cells to rub together.

Hence why he released a statement this morning apologising and clarifying that he does not believe — ah, screw it, you know what’s coming.

“Media reports that I have drawn or believe there is a link between abortion and breast cancer are incorrect”, the statement begins. Which, y’know, is wrong — going on TV and citing ‘studies’ that posit that exact thing can probably be reasonably interpreted as “drawing a link”.

Let’s go on. Abetz than says he accepts that “Dr Angela Lanfranchi’s views on this topic were not the accepted medical view”, before spruiking the hell out of her medical credentials.

“Dr Lanfranchi is a breast cancer surgeon and a clinical assistant professor of surgery.  She is the surgical co-director of the Sanofi-Aventis Breast Care Centre and the Steeplechase Cancer Centre in New Jersey.

She has spoken at hospitals and universities around the world and she has the right to free speech in Australia.”

Dr Lanfranchi, for those playing at home, is an American pro-lifer who also believes the Pill kills women and makes them both less likely to have sex with their partner and more likely to have sex with someone who isn’t their partner. She’s also speaking at the same WCF conference Abetz is attending.

Pro-tip: if the only justification for your argument is “it’s not illegal”, it’s probably a pretty shitty argument.

Abetz closes with this: “I accept the AMA has a right to disagree with Dr Lanfranchi’s views.”

Oh, thank God! They were so worried! All night the doctors and scientists at the AMA have been tossing and turning, worried half to death that their longstanding and scientifically-proven views on women’s health might not be good enough for Eric Abetz, King of the Ovaries!

So basically, Abetz’s statement reads: “I didn’t say those things, and even if I did they’re probably true, and why is everyone yelling at me don’t you know who I am I will steal your bike”. The whole thing would be hilarious if this dude wasn’t one of the most powerful people in the country, and is right now making enough money as a Senator to keep him floating to the surface of Australia’s national discourse until the Sun implodes.

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(Feature image via The Project/Channel Ten.)