The Age
Peter Ker
November 3, 2007
Ricki Lake.

THE award for the most unlikely participation in the election campaign has surely been won after US talk show host Ricki Lake appeared with a NSW Senate candidate in Sydney yesterday.

In Australia to promote her film about women's rights and birthing issues, Ms Lake held a press conference with Justine Caines, a candidate for the What Women Want party.

The party is campaigning on issues important to women, but its desire to improve maternity services provides the link to Ms Lake.

"I do think this is a political issue, this issue of women fighting for their right to choice," Ms Lake said. Her film features her giving birth at home in a bath and investigates women's choice for vaginal birth or caesareans, and whether women get adequate care during childbirth.

Ms Lake said she did not know enough about Australian politics to discuss the outcome of the November 24 election, but threw her support behind Ms Caines.