After President Obama overturned a ban on taxpayer subsidization of abortions overseas, the lone remaining country to prohibit the practice is deciding whether to follow his lead.

Just days ago Obama imposed an executive order repealing the Mexico City policy that during President Bush's tenure protected Americans from being required to fund groups that promote and pay for abortions around the globe – and now his action has compelled Australian activists to call for their own government to lift restrictions, CNS News reports.

The U.S. plan was originated by President Reagan in 1984. It prohibited non-governmental organizations that receive federal funds from providing or promoting abortions in other nations. President Clinton rescinded the rule Jan. 22, 1993, calling it "excessively broad" and "unwarranted."

But when President Bush took office in January 2001, he immediately issued an executive order reinstituting the pro-life policy.

"It is my conviction that taxpayer funds should not be used to pay for abortion or actively promote abortion," Bush said.

Despite a Jan. 16 letter from 77 members of Congress urging Obama to continue the ban, he issued an executive order repealing the policy as one of his first actions as president.

With the change in U.S. policy, Australia is the only remaining donor nation to implement restrictions on abortion-related aid.

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Australia has implemented the ban for 13 years, since the administration of former Prime Minister John Howard. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd did not repeal the policy when he took office in December 2007

According to the guidelines, Australian Agency for International Development, or AusAID, funding may not be used for "abortion training or services, or research, trials or activities which directly involve abortion drugs" in other countries.

Also, the policy declares information that promotes abortion as a method of family planning or provides instructions on abortion procedures ineligible for funding.

Australia's parliament has debated for years about whether it should repeal the policy.

Critics say the rule hurts women in developing countries. A 2007 report from a parliamentary panel claimed the ban is unreasonable and encourages "unsafe" abortions that are the cause of 13 percent of maternal deaths around the world.

The panel chairman claimed the ban increases the mortality rate of women rather than promoting maternal health.

Australia Foreign Minister Stephen Smith is now consulting with Labor lawmakers to decide whether to repeal the ban, his office told CNS News.

But activists, including Jane Singleton, CEO of the Australian Reproductive Health Alliance, are pushing for immediate action in the shadow of Obama's executive order.

"This is not about providing abortions in countries where it is illegal but providing full access to family planning and education about unsafe abortion and where abortion is legal, to safe abortion," she said.

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