Bush had cut funding because of his religious faith.
Two months ago Obama abolished the controversial "global gag rule", which prohibited American aid being used to give abortion advice to women in developing countries. That left Australia as the only country in the world which restricted its foreign aid being used in relation to abortion research, education or training, even in countries where it's legal. "It is a disgrace that Australia is expecting women in developing countries, who live under poverty and hardship, not to have the same rights as women in Australia," argued Ary Laufer, executive officer of the not-for-profit reproductive health service provider, Marie Stopes International Australia.
Globally, 13 per cent of maternal deaths are attributed to unsafe abortion. Australia's government aid agency," AusAid announced early this week it would review the policy, and on Wednesday PM Kevin Rudd finally joined Obama in putting health before religion.
