Dwarfism was not a condition that justified an abortion, government senator John Herron told parliament yesterday.

Senator Herron, asked about the possible late-term abortion of a foetus at the Royal Women's Hospital early this year, said virtually no medical condition justified a late-term abortion.

Independent Tasmanian Senator Brian Harradine pursued the government in the Senate yesterday over its attitude to the Medicare funding of abortions. He asked Senator Herron, a Catholic who is opposed to abortion, whether it was appropriate for Medicare to pay for late term abortions.

Senator Herron said the government supported the principle that decisions about abortion were up to the person concerned and their doctors. “Given that overall principle, my understanding is that in the provision of Medicare services relating to abortion where the action is legal under the state jurisdictions, it is not the Commonwealth Government's place to intervene,” he said.

But when asked whether the government believed it appropriate for near-term babies to be aborted because of dwarfism, Senator Herron said he would have to seek more information from Health Minister Michael Wooldridge. Senator Herron represents Dr Wooldridge in the Senate.

A dissatisfied Senator Harradine hinted that he would chase information from the Health Insurance Commission - the administrators of Medicare - on the reasons women gave when seeking an abortion, the stage of pregnancy and the method of termination used by doctors.

The Royal Women's Hospital case stirred controversy around the nation when it emerged early last month.

Three senior medical staff, an obstetrician, a clinical geneticist and a psychiatrist, were suspended by the hospital over the suspected abortion of the foetus at 32 weeks gestation. The suspension lasted just a few days but the three were also referred to the Medical Practitioner's Board of Victoria for possible professional misconduct.

The case involved a 40-year-old suicidal woman who visited the Royal Women's in January demanding an abortion after tests confirmed the foetus had a non-fatal form of dwarfism.

Senator Harradine's two lengthy questions on abortion brought silence to a chamber dominated by questions about petrol prices.

Although he deflected crucial elements of Senator Harradine's questions, Senator Herron left no-one in doubt about his own views on abortion.

“I have been a constant opponent of abortion throughout my life - since medical student days, and I personally would not support the practice that Senator Harradine has outlined,” he said.