Coalition Tasmanian Senator Eric Abetz has thrown his support behind the controversial World Congress of Families and some of its more medically questionable beliefs during an interview on Channel Ten’s The Project.
The World Congress of Families is to meet in Melbourne at the end of this month, and Mr Abetz, who holds leads the government in the Senate, is expected to host some of the attendees.
Mr Abetz told the panellists, "I think the studies, and I think they date back from the 1950s, assert that there is a link between abortion and breast cancer."
The Australian Medical Association strongly rebuked Mr Abetz' claim, with AMA President Brian Owler telling ABC News, "I think he should stay out of these debates if you're quoting evidence from the 1950s, I think that's in line with the attitudes he's putting forward."
On Friday morning, Mr Abetz acknowledged to reporters the WCF's beliefs are not in line with the established medical view.
Abetz: "In my interview last night I studiously avoided doing so...was cut off before being able to acknowledge...not accepted medical view"
The WCF also holds beliefs linking the birth control pill to women in violent relationships.
The full interview, including Mr Abetz standing by "traditional" families can be found here.
