Bertram Barney Wainer (1928–1987)
Leading Australian abortion-law reformer Dr Bertram Wainer has died in Victoria at the age of 58.
The Scottish-born doctor opened the country's first publicly promoted fertility control clinic in Melbourne in the early 1970s.
Dr Wainer, a former Australian Army doctor, began his abortion-reform campaign in 1967 after opening a general practice in the Melbourne bayside suburb of St Kilda.
He worked to bring to public attention the practices of the backyard abortion industry because of the number of women needing medical attention after illegal terminations.
Dr Wainer performed several medical terminations and then invited the police to arrest and charge him.
No charges were laid, but his actions led to a state Government inquiry into the abortion rackets in the late 1960s, with 32 police charged with bribery, corruption and misconduct.
He opened his clinic in East Melbourne and became the target of large-scale anti-abortion protests which reached their height between 1970 and 1972.
The Right to Life movement has maintained its protests outside the East Melbourne clinic which now has a medical staff of about 40.
Dr Wainer has been the subject of death threats and property damage while campaigning for abortion on demand and running the clinic.
A family spokesman said Dr Wainer had undergone three heart by-pass operations in recent years.
He is survived by his wife Jo and daughter Zoe and four children from his first marriage.
Original publication
Additional Resources
- Trove search
- accuses Victorian police of accepting bribes from illegal abortionists, Canberra Times, 5 July 1969, p 3
- resigns from the Australian Medical Assn after being found guilty by them of disreputable conduct regarding his view on abortion law reform, Canberra Times, 27 September 1969, p 1
- will meet with the Victorian Police Commissioner to discuss allegations of police corruption regarding illegal abortions, Canberra Times, 12 December 1969, p 3
- the Chief Commissioner says a building Wainer says was operating as a backyard abortion clinic was actually a laundrette, Canberra Times, 26 December 1969, p 3
- William Kaye QC is to head an inquiry investigating claims that Victorian police took bribes from illegal abortionists, Canberra Times, 6 January 1970, p 1
- the inquiry is expected to last a month, Canberra Times, 7 January 1970, p 3
- article discussing the inquiry, Tribune (Sydney), 14 January 1970, p 12
- evidence presented at the inquiry, Canberra Times, 23 January 1970, pp 1 & 3
- evidence presented at the inquiry, Canberra Times, 12 February 1970, p 3
- Dr Fenton-Bowen, a former doctor and convicted abortionist, gives evidence to the inquiry, Canberra Times, 13 February 1970, p 3
- two assistant commissioners are called before the inquiry, Canberra Times, 18 February 1970, p 3
- article about the 'startling' evidence being revealed at the inquiry, Tribune (Sydney), 18 February 1970, p 5
- Wainer gives evidence to the inquiry, Canberra Times, 20 February 1970, p 3
- Wainer gives evidence to the inquiry, Canberra Times, 21 February 1970, p 3
- Wainer gives evidence to the inquiry, Canberra Times, 24 February 1970, p 3
- George Joseph and Charles Gardiner give evidence to the inquiry, Canberra Times, 25 February 1970, p 15
- Wainer believes that at least 100,000 abortions are performed in Australia each year, Canberra Times, 27 February 1970, p 3
- Dr Troup gives evidence to the inquiry, Canberra Times, 28 February 1970, p 11
- Wainer calls on the Premier to release seven police officers to help him in a special squad to investigate Victorian police, Canberra Times, 2 March 1970, p 3
- Premier Sir Henry Bolte says the suggestion is 'ridiculous and ludicrous', Canberra Times, 3 March 1970, p 3
- Wainer is to stand against the Chief Secretary, on behalf of the Progressive Reform Party, in the coming state election, Canberra Times, 28 April 1970, p 3
- police make submissions to the inquiry, Canberra Times, 19 May 1970, p 7
- Wainer says a terror campaign is being waged against him, Canberra Times, 15 September 1970, p 9
- the Victorian Chief Secretary rejects a request by Wainer for a meeting to discuss urgent matters relating to further police corruption, Canberra Times, 20 April 1971, p 8
- Kaye Inquiry finds that police co-operated with illegal abortionists and criticises Wainer's evidence, Canberra Times, 1 September 1971, p 8
- Wainer has been declared bankrupt, Canberra Times, 1 September 1971, p 8
- is to set up a private practice in Qld, Canberra Times, 10 September 1971, p 6
- is divorced by his wife, Canberra Times, 21 June 1972, p 10
- review of his book, 'It Isn't Nice', Canberra Times, 22 July 1972, p 13
- is to open a clinic to provide abortions on request in East Melbourne, Canberra Times, 31 October 1972, p 1
- the Victorian Registration Board threatens to deregister him for advertising, Canberra Times, 15 December 1972, p 3
- the hearing is adjourned, Canberra Times, 8 June 1973, p 7
- a city barrister, C. W. Villeneuve-Smith is to conduct an inquiry into allegations of police corruption following allegations by Wainer, Canberra Times, 28 February 1975, p 6
- Wainer accuses the elite police squads as being the main instigators of graft and corruption in the force, Canberra Times, 11 March 1975, p 7
- shots are fired at one of Wainer's witnesses, Canberra Times, 12 March 1975, p 3
- a full public inquiry will be held into Wainer's allegations, Canberra Times, 13 March 1975, p 3
- Barry Beach QC is to head the inquiry, Canberra Times, 19 March 1975, p 12
- Wainer gives evidence to the inquiry, Canberra Times, 20 May 1975, p 7
- evidence presented to the inquiry, Canberra Times, 21 May 1975, p 13
- Pentridge prisoner Leonard Coppin gives evidence to the inquiry, Canberra Times, 22 May 1975, p 9
- Bertram Wainer gives evidence to the inquiry, Canberra Times, 24 June 1975, p 3
- evidence presented at the inquiry, Canberra Times, 26 June 1975, p 7
- Rayma Joyce's evidence to the inquiry, Canberra Times, 8 July 1975, p 4
- a Pentridge prisoner refuses to give evidence to the inquiry, Canberra Times, 19 August 1975, p 3
- Peter Hewat gives evidence to the inquiry, Canberra Times, 11 November 1975, p 3
- Wainer, who was declared bankrupt in 1971, has paid his creditors in full, Canberra Times, 16 December 1975, p 3
- the Beach report makes adverse findings against about 50 police officers, Canberra Times, 14 October 1976, p 9
- a walk-in, walk-out clinic offering cut-price sterilisation for men and women is to be opened in Melbourne by Wainer, Canberra Times, 1 March 1977, p 9
- anti-abortion campaigners 'invade' Wainer's fertility control clinic, Canberra Times, 27 April 1978, p 9
- federal police raid Wainer's fertility control clinic, Canberra Times, 21 February 1982, p 3
- they also raided his home, Canberra Times, 26 February 1982, p 3
- Wainer is to contest the seat of Monbulk in the coming state election in opposition to the Right to Life, Canberra Times, 13 March 1982, p 3
- asks the High Court to order the federal police to return documents they took when they raided his clinic and home, Canberra Times, 8 March 1983, p 3
- is to open a temporary fertility clinic in Brisbane to challenge Queensland's abortion laws, Canberra Times, 23 May 1985, p 3
Related Entries in NCB Sites
- Wainer, Bertram Barney
- Bayliss, Peter John (colleague)
- Morey, Noel Charles (acquaintance)
Citation details
'Wainer, Bertram Barney (1928–1987)', Obituaries Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/wainer-bertram-barney-15900/text35106, accessed 14 September 2024.
Life Summary [details]
Birth
30 December,
1928
Edinburgh,
Mid-Lothian,
Scotland
Death
16 January,
1987
(aged 58)
Glenlofty,
Victoria,
Australia
Cause of Death
Cultural Heritage
Includes subject's nationality; their parents' nationality; the countries in which they spent a significant part of their childhood, and their self-identity.
Religious Influence
Includes the religion in which subjects were raised, have chosen themselves, attendance at religious schools and/or religious funeral rites; Atheism and Agnosticism have been included.