Hundreds attend March for Life rally held in Brisbane

Hundreds of anti-abortion protesters have taken to Brisbane CBD and faced off against a pro-choice group which gatecrashed the event which forced police to intervene.

Hundreds of pro-life protesters have rallied outside Parliament House and along George St while facing off against a pro-choice group which crashed the event.

“Keep your rosaries off my ovaries” signs clashed with “compassion never kills” signs as pro-life and pro-choice protesters were separated by police.

The group of pro-choice protesters chanted “cherish life your name is a lie, you don’t care if people die,” and “hands off our bodies,” while pre-march speeches were made.

Meanwhile, Katter’s Australian Party leader Robbie Katter MP spoke at the rally and said he couldn’t “stand by while babies are being killed”.

A protester at the March For Life in Brisbane. Picture: Richard Walker

It comes just three months after the Traeger MP introduced a private member’s bill in Queensland Parliament to have babies born alive in failed late-term abortions be granted human rights.

“One of my cousins has a daughter with down syndrome and another my sister has a kid with autism and I suppose there’s a lot of people out there that think they should be knocked on the head when they’re kids.

“I can’t get my head around the wickedness that’s sort of involved in that way of thinking,” Mr Katter said.

Mr Katter said the push doesn’t stop with the rally or the bill in parliament.

MP Robbie Katter at March For Life in Brisbane. Picture: Richard Walker

“One of my cousins has a daughter with down syndrome and another my sister has a kid with autism and I suppose there’s a lot of people out there that think they should be knocked on the head when they’re kids.”

Mr Katter said the crowd had the power to make change.

“Let’s be brave individually from today on in our conversations and the way we live our life and support those babies that are being killed,” he said.

But Pro-Choice protester Hannah said today’s action was supporting a ban on bodies.

“It’s our body our choice really,” she said.

“The narrative they are spinning is not scientific and it’s not factual.”

Pro-life protester and father Nathan Tait said he felt the unborn were being left to die.

Pro-life protester Nathan Tait with son Colbe Tait. Picture: Richard Walker

Mr Tait said babies have the right to have a voice.

“It’s concerning that we don’t have a heart. Whether catholic or not catholic it doesn’t matter.”

Speaker Annouska Firth said when she discovered she was pregnant at 25, the doctor handed her a pamphlet with options.

“Murder was an option, though it was under a more acceptable name,” she said.

Ms Firth said she woke up after the abortion and felt positively empty.

“From my very cold core I had been shredded apart, I was cursed I had murder my own child. My child,” she said.

“There was no way to undo what I had done,” she said.

March For Life in Brisbane, Saturday, June 8, 2024 - Picture: Richard Walker

Ms Firth said the agonising heartache and raged possessed her.

“The sound of a baby crying would send me into panic attacks I had horrific nightmares and I was diagnosed with PTSD,” she said.

By 27, Ms Firth said she became a heroin addict and became pregnant a second time

“Yes, I did it again, fully aware of the truth but driven by my own goals,” Ms Firth said

“…blaming the establishment, the abortionist, men, the government, partners, mental health, social and economic circumstances. Anything but me and my murderous heart.”