After parodying Julia Gillard's climate policy in a TV ad earlier this month, GetUp, an independent Australian advocacy organisation, has turned its attention to Tony Abbott in a new commercial featuring the Coalition leader's statements about abortion, the cervical cancer vaccine and the role of women in society.

"Tony Abbott said that politicians are going to be judged on everything they say.' Australian women are judging his comments and they're justifiably concerned about the stance he would take on issues like abortion and women's health were he Prime Minister," said GetUp National Director Simon Sheikh.

"From counselling against the vaccination for cervical cancer as Health Minister, to calling abortion a matter of a woman's 'convenience', Tony Abbott has consistently taken stands that show a lack of respect for issues that affect Australian women and matter to them most."

"Tony Abbott's paid parental leave policy was the one issue that Australians supported, and even that is now being delayed and weakened in the interests of big business," Mr Sheikh said.

New poll results released today by GetUp indicate that Mr Abbott's stance on women's health issues are influencing the views of Australian women. An Auspoll survey found that his opposition to safe non-surgical abortion medication and to the over-the-counter availability of emergency contraception has a negative impact on the opinions of one in two female voters.

"Women don't vote for their gender, they vote their values, and that's where Tony Abbott is falling down. The GetUp members in our latest ad each put their voice to Tony Abbott's own discouraging words on important issues to Australian women," said Mr. Sheikh.

The ad features female GetUp members voicing quotes from Mr Abbott. These include

"I think it would be folly to expect that women will ever dominate or even approach equal representation in a large number of areas simply because their aptitudes, abilities and interests are different for physiological reasons," which Mr Abbot said in 1979 and "Abortion is the easy way out. It's hardly surprising that people should choose the most convenient exit from awkward situations," which he said in March 2004.

The ad closes with the message: "Times have changed, Tony. But will you?