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Debate on the Greens bill to broaden the state’s already extreme abortion laws began in the New South Wales Parliament on 26 March.

Opening the speeches was Penny Sharpe, the Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council, who spoke of her pride of the role she played in the full decriminalisation of abortion during 2019. “It’s fundamental, it’s healthcare,” she said. 

Turning to the specifics of the bill, Sharpe indicated that she strongly supported the proposed change to the law that would allow endorsed midwives and nurse practitioners to prescribe abortion drugs, noting that this was recommended by the five-year statutory review into the state’s abortion laws that occurred at the end of 2024. 

Sharpe further explained that she did not support the provision that would give the Health Minister the ability to force public health organisations to provide abortion, saying that there was no other aspect of healthcare where this is placed into legislation.  

Sharpe also indicated that she did not support the requirement for health professionals who hold a conscientious objection to abortion to nonetheless refer for abortion. Sharpe said that this was part of a lengthy debate during 2019, and that she considered that “ultimately, we got the balance right.”  

She indicated that she would vote in favour of the bill at the conclusion of the second reading debate so that it would progress to the committee stage where amendments would be considered, but would review her position for the final vote if the bill did not reflect the recommendations of the statutory review. 

Her Labor colleague, Rose Jackson MLC, also gave a spirited defence of abortion, saying that she would support the bill because “it seeks to expand the access of abortion in NSW.”  

Coercion

Liberal MLC Rachel Merton was the first to speak in opposition to the bill, calling it “one of the most egregious and concerning pieces of legislation” she had seen in her time in parliament, saying it “represents a direct and malicious attack on some of the freedoms and liberties that we as Australians hold dear, that being freedom of religion and freedom of conscience.” 

“The people of NSW are entitled to look at this Bill and ask where does it all end with the ideological legislative agenda being pushed by left-wing Parliamentarians in this state,” she said. 

Merton also pointed out that the Australian Medical Association was opposed to the threats to the conscience protections for health care professionals contained in the bill.  

“Such objections are, of course, swept aside when the Greens are on yet another ideological, authoritarian crusade,” she said. 

Crossbenchers Rod Roberts and John Ruddick also spoke in opposition to the bill, with Roberts calling it “nothing short of coercion.”  

Roberts spoke in defence of faith-based hospitals, saying, “Many of our finest hospitals were built by a Christian church, continue to be owned and operated by a Christian church and have caring, Christian values.  

“Shouldn’t we acknowledge their efforts and have some reverence for their efforts to help the sick and not want to impose values on them that they do not share? Abortion is not an entitlement and certainly not one that should ever override freedom of association or freedom of conscience in any way.” 

Debate was adjourned and will not resume until 7 May at the earliest. 

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Republished with thanks to The Catholic Weekly. Image courtesy of Adobe.