Liferight. The name alone brings forth visions of Captain Catholic and Wonder Nun leading a flock of starry eyed catholic school products along a rigid anti-abortion straight and narrow that totally ignores reality. This however, is a naive view that is created from pre-conceived notions and half read news reports. Though it is more Catholic than the Russian Politburo, Liferight is less Catholic than Poland's 'Solidarity' movement. Though not pro-abortion on demand it is not merely an anti-abortion group. "In some situations abortion is a tragic necessity" said one Liferight member. "We just wish to encourage life instead of indiscriminate killing".

Liferight isn't a high disciplined pressure group. Its demonstration at the opening of Parliament was not, it seems, the most highly organised of the demonstrations there. Certainly no Jesuit style discipline was evident in the actions of the two organisers of the march from the Victoria Library to Parliament. They arrived late so anyone who had been waiting had given up and gone for some chips in the Cafe.

There is however, dedication. The two organisers bravely marched to Parliament where several people were waiting. One had been there since 9.30am.

The group grew to about 50 people. (It is a sign of the times that the total of all the demonstrators and spectators at Parliament was probably less than the total of the newsmen, soldiers and policemen waiting to examine honour and protect the arriving dignitaries.) The inevitable banners and placards merged with things like Abortion Kills: Adoption Cares and Abortion Exploits Women and Stop The Tour. (Some Liferight members were multi-purpose demonstrators. Liferight itself is involved in other groups, mostly community help groups connected with children; Pregnancy Help, Helping the Handicapped, the Alexandra Home for Preggies).

The "Abortion Exploits Women" placard was particularly popular with those members of the Women's Action Group who were there. One of them is arranging for Liferight to help at the varsity creche. Liferight is not only concerned with abortion but also with helping people through their pregnancy and helping them after the birth of their child.

The cameramen scanned up and down the protestors and they waved their banners and signs and the normally bored looking newsmen seemed to look even more bored. There seemed little chance of a violent demonstration and the Liferight group wasn't even chanting.

The Liferight group didn't chant, opting instead for a silent demonstration. Actually since there had been a group there all day it was the longest demonstration at Parliament that day even if it wasn't the noisiest.