Babies Born Alive Bill: A Cry for Compassion
On 20 March 2024, Robbie Katter, MP for Traeger and leader of the Katter’s Australian Party, introduced the Termination of Pregnancy (Live Births) Amendment Bill 2024, widely known as the “Queensland Babies Born Alive Bill”.
Whilst not impacting access to abortions, the Bill does propose an amendment to Queensland abortion law to make it clear that if a live birth occurs after a failed abortion procedure, the child should be treated no differently than any other child born in Queensland.
Queensland’s 207 Abortion Survivors
Those opposing the Bill have repeatedly voiced their opinion that this does not happen. However, in November 2023, LNP MP for Oodgeroo, Dr Mark Robinson, asked a question on notice to the Minister of Health, Labor MP Shannon Fentiman regarding the exact number of babies born alive from 2018-2022 Queensland. The total number was 207 babies. Of those 207, 158 babies were born between 20-28 weeks; three were born after 28 weeks.
Alongside this empirical data, there are also numerous reports and witness testimonies from both within Australia and overseas. These reports and testimonies range from healthcare practitioners, parents who have witnessed such an ordeal and survivors themselves. One website in particular, AbortionSurvivors.org, provides conclusive testimonies and evidence of people that have survived the abortion procedure. Below are three heartbreaking examples from Australia alone.
Australian Stories of Survival and Sorrow
1. Jessica Jane
“Jessica Jane”, a baby born in the Northern Territory on July 14, 1999, survived an abortion at 22 weeks. She was provided no life-sustaining treatment. She lived, moved and cried for approximately 80 minutes before passing away. Coroner Greg Cavanagh poignantly remarked, “The fact that her death was inevitable should not affect her entitlement to such care and attention.”
2. Unnamed Baby at Westmead Hospital
A tragic case at Sydney’s Westmead Hospital saw an unnamed baby discovered in a medical waste bin. Coroner Janet Stevenson condemned the staff’s inaction, highlighting a “total abrogation of responsibility, let alone common humanity.”
3. Baby Xanthe
In 2020, at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Baby Xanthe, who had Down’s Syndrome, was born alive at 19 weeks. Her mother was not informed and was deprived of holding her as she died alone in an empty room.
All three cases underscore the profound cruelty of denying basic comfort and care to these vulnerable infants. Both Jessica Jane and Xanthe were aborted for “social” reasons, not due to any life-threatening conditions. These stories expose a stark contrast to the compassion and humanity we strive for in our society. All three cases further illustrate the urgent need for legislative change to protect the most vulnerable among us.
The Journey of the Bill
Public submissions for the Bill closed on 13 May, with Cherish Life playing a significant role in mobilising over 600 individuals to contribute. The total number of accepted submissions to the Queensland Parliament’s Inquiry was 645, a testament and demonstration of the public’s concern and engagement.
The Bill’s next milestone was a public hearing scheduled for 10 June. However, news of its postponement at the end of May, with no rescheduled date, raised fears of deliberate stalling. As a standard part of the parliamentary process, the Bill ordinarily would be unable to be voted on without a public hearing.
Committee Chair Mr Aaron Harper, Labor MP for Thuringowa, made the decision to postpone the Bill without explanation. This sparked immediate action from our supporters. Their outcry led to a rapid rescheduling of the hearing to 19 August. While the looming October election raises doubts about the Bill’s immediate passage, the rescheduling, however, underscores the power of public voice and collective action.
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Republished with thanks to Cherish Life.
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Thanks Matthew for the update on this important Life Saving Bill.
Matthew, harrowing! But thank you for keeping ‘murder’ before us. I have tried to get inside the head and heart of medical staff who partake in this ritual. I can’t! I can only conclude that they are anesthetized to humanity. I can’t think of any in the animal kingdom who would behave like this. I am thrilled for your organization Cherish Life. I pray that you and your people will be strong and very courageous.