Senator Matt Canavan says abortion laws go too far
QUEENSLAND is about to enshrine some of the most radical termination laws in the world, according Federal Senator Matt Canavan who joined a massive rally which briefly closed down Brisbane’s George St today.
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QUEENSLAND’S proposed new abortion laws would enshrine some of the most extreme and radical termination laws in the world according Federal Senator Matt Canavan who has joined a massive rally which briefly closed down Brisbane’s George Street today.
The Minister for Resources and Northern Australian was joined by LNP colleague Senator Amanda Stoker and several thousand people at the March for Life event protesting a Queensland bill which provides for abortions on request up to 22 weeks of pregnancy.
Under the proposed laws a woman would need the support of their doctor, in consultation with another medical professional, to have an abortion beyond 22 weeks unless the woman faced a medical emergency.
“Make no mistake, this bill would allow the unrestricted abortion of human life right up to birth,’’ Senator Canavan said.
“Queensland would join one of only seven countries in the world that allows such a practice.
“We would join a very exclusive club.’’
The Termination of Pregnancy Bill 2018 was introduced to the Queensland Parliament last month by Attorney General Yvette D’Ath and will come up for debate in October after being examined by a parliamentary committee.
Ms D’Ath has described the laws which would include safe zones for women accessing clinics to prevent harassment as recalibrating abortion from a criminal matter to a health issue.
“No one ever makes this decision lightly, but all women across Queensland should have the right to make this decision for themselves,” Ms D’Ath told State Parliament earlier this month.
“I do this for our mothers, our sisters, our daughters, our friends,” Ms D’Ath said.
“I do this for women who have fought long and hard for the right to autonomy over their own bodies.”
The rally was told the laws were dehumanising as well as sexist (because the female fetus was aborted more regularly than the male) and highly discriminatory towards the unborn.
Toowoomba Doctor David Van Gend said doctors would despise and ignore the unjust laws if they passed.
Dr Van Gend also attacked the Labor Party for concerning themselves with asylum seekers but not the unborn.
“They are not concerned with these little asylum seekers at the border of life.’’
Senator Canavan said the bill was a “radical and extreme change to our laws’’ and should be rejected in its entirety.
The father of five said he believed every human life deserved dignity, protection and support.
“I stand with you for life today as a proud father,’’ he told the crowd which organisers said exceeded 4000 people.
Senator Canavan said he and his wife had been “blessed’’ to experience the creation of life five times.
“You know most things you do in life, the more you do of it the less you enjoy it,’’ he said.
“The first time I drove a car was unforgettable but now it is just ho-hum.
“The first time I took off in a plane was exhilarating but now it is just a part of the necessary routine of my job. Life is not like that.
“The first time you hear a heart beat, the first time you feel those legs kick and the first time you that you hear a cry it always makes your heart jump – it never gets dull.’’
Organisers said they needed just four Labor MPs to join them to have a chance of defeating the laws which will be debated in October.
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