Anti-abortion leaflet drop targets National MP electorates
National MPs including Deputy Premier John Barilo have been targeted in a mass anti-abortion leaflet drop today as pressure mounts on the party ahead of a vote to decriminalise terminations in NSW.
NSW
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- Berejiklian needs six MPs to support abortion amendments
- MPs ‘threatened’ over publicly pushing abortion debate
Deputy Premier John Barilaro’s southern NSW electorate is one of six National MPs targeted in a mass anti-abortion legislation leaflet drop that started today.
It comes as pressure mounts on The Nationals to deliver three crucial votes to carry the controversial legislation in the upper house next week.
“The fact that only two Nationals Party MPs out of 13 voted against the bill shows just how out of touch the party is on this issue,” said Kieren Jackson, NSW Director for the Australian Christian Lobby (ACL).
Premier Gladys Berejiklian needs to get six upper house MPs to support core amendments to the bill, including banning sex-selection abortions, and avert a looming political crisis.
Liberal moderates including Don Harwin, Shayne Mallard and Natalie Ward may consider sensible amendments but the Nationals would need to come up with the other three.
The ACL has jumped on the issue and has distributed 94,200 leaflets in the electorates of six Nationals MPs including Duguld Saunders in Dubbo, Gurmesh Singh in Coffs Harbour, Leslie Williams in Port Macquarie, Adam Marshall in Northern Tablelands and Steph Cooke in Cootamundra.
“Nationals MPs in the upper house now have an opportunity to show they have woken up to the extreme nature of this bill,” Mr Jackson said.
“We have seen how this issue has damaged the Liberal Party, but it’s also damaged the Nationals who have shown themselves to be out of touch with their voter base,” he said.