Abortion amendments urgently drafted to calm rebel Liberals
Three Liberal MPs who support the bill to decriminalise abortion have urgently drafted a set of watered-down amendments in an effort to calm a group of rogue MPs and mend the Premier’s authority.
NSW
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A set of watered-down abortion bill amendments have been urgently drafted to placate rebel MPs, who called off a spill motion against Premier Gladys Berejiklian.
But the Premier’s authority remains on a knife’s edge with Tanya Davies leaving the door open to defecting to the crossbench if she is unsatisfied.
Just 12 hours after threatening the spill, Ms Davies and two other rebel MPs called off their plans soon after 8am.
Sources believe with a show of hands the spill motion would have had just three to four votes but this could have risen to 10 in a secret ballot, which was not allowed under party rules. In calling off the spill, the rebels said they believed constructive discussions would now happen on amendments.
A rescue mission was then mounted behind closed doors to find agreement on the controversial legislation.
It came after Ms Berejiklian did not take a number of phone calls from Ms Davies yesterday morning. One senior minister said privately his greatest interest was keeping Ms Davies “in the tent” so as not to fall into minority government — but others were willing to call her bluff.
The Daily Telegraph understands Education Minister Sarah Mitchell, Nationals MLC Trevor Khan and former Coalition Minister Niall Blair, who all support the bill to decriminalise abortion, discussed six “reasonable” amendments yesterday with several MPs who oppose it.
It is understood they met with Finance Minister Damien Tudehope and Liberal backbencher Matthew Mason-Cox, who have concerns over a number of issues including a lack of protections against sex-selective abortions.
Former Nationals Minister Mr Blair, who will move some of the amendments, told The Daily Telegraph: “We are trying to find a middle ground between the camps where neither loses the main objectives of what they want to achieve.”
However, it is understood none of the six amendments completely prevent sex-selection — one of the most critical issues raised by critics.
One senior source said: “It’s fair to say the amendments will not satisfy their concerns but discussions are constructive.” Another said it was a bid to “throw the rebels a bone”.
Upper house MPs were preparing for a marathon sitting last night with 32 abortion amendments slated for debate.
The first amendment to change the name of the bill passed, ensuring the legislation will need to return to the lower house, but the amendment to reduce the gestation trigger from 22 weeks to 20 weeks was defeated 26-15.
Both Ms Davies and fellow Liberal backbencher Kevin Conolly have threatened to move to the crossbench — plunging the government into minority — if key amendments are not passed.