Vic MP Pushes for Religious Hospitals to be Forced to Perform Abortions and Euthanasia
Victorian MP Fiona Patten is pushing a new bill that aims to take away the rights of publicly funded hospitals with religious affiliations to refuse to perform abortions and euthanasia.
The state’s current laws allow women to access an abortion up to 24 weeks into their pregnancy. Abortions can still be performed after 24 weeks as long as a second doctor is consulted and agrees that the termination can go ahead. The state’s Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2017 came into effect on June 19, 2019. However, under the current legislation, hospitals that receive public funds are not required to perform abortions or euthanasia.
Religious Ethos Not Allowed
Ms Patten, who is the founder and leader of the Reason Party (formerly the Australian Sex Party), has claimed that “the health system is mistreating those who fund it” in cases where hospitals refuse to provide these services due to conscientious objections. She said that while:
“religion is a blessing to many amid the mysteries and vagaries of existence… imposed religious faith has no place in the public health system.”
Her new ‘Health Legislation Amendment (Conscientious Objection) Bill’ states that:
“A denominational hospital must not direct or otherwise cause a registered health practitioner… to refuse to provide mandatory advice and services on the basis of a conscientious objection.”
However, the bill would still permit individual workers within publicly funded hospitals to exercise conscientious objection.
This comes only a few months after former Liberal MP Bernie Finn was kicked out of the state Liberal Party for expressing his pro-life views in a Facebook post in which he celebrated the impending overturning of Roe v. Wade in the United States.
There are now only three sitting weeks remaining before the state election in November.
___
Originally published at Family Life International. Photo by Mart Production.
Recent Articles:
11 September 2026
3.3 MINS
Moira Deeming has joined Family First as its lead Victorian candidate, pledging to contest the 28 November state election and continue her fight for child safeguards, faith, and sex-based rights.
11 September 2026
7.9 MINS
10 September marks the one-year anniversary of Charlie Kirk's assassination. Reflecting on his legacy, let's pray for his family and that we continue the mission God has called us to.
11 September 2026
3.7 MINS
Irish boxing icon Katie Taylor retired in style at Dublin's Croke Park, walking out before 80,000 fans singing "All Hail King Jesus" and wearing Psalm 18 in gold — a testament to the faith she calls the foundation of her life.
11 September 2026
2.9 MINS
Among the groups collecting the taxpayer funds were the Working with Women Alliance, which pushes free abortion via Medicare, Minus18 Foundation, which hosts “Queer Formals” for 12-year-olds, and Acon Health, which promotes “gender transition” treatments for children.
11 September 2026
3.2 MINS
A NSW Council dares to suggest public spaces should unite Australians rather than divide them by race. The outrage is revealing.
11 September 2026
2 MINS
Hundreds of parents are taking legal action against the Queensland Government over the ban on transgender drugs for children. While the drugs are still available through the private health system, they are seeking $50,000 each in compensation for 'discrimination'.
10 September 2026
3 MINS
Moira Deeming has announced today that she has joined Family First. Now the Parliamentary Leader for the party, she will re-contest her seat for the Western Metropolitan Region electorate at the 2026 Victorian November election.
