Barnaby Joyce interrupts leave to have his say on abortion bill
BARNABY Joyce has interrupted his self-imposed leave from work to argue against the rights of women to access an abortion without being abused and harassed by protesters.
NSW
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BARNABY Joyce has interrupted his self-imposed leave from work to argue against the rights of women to access an abortion without being abused and harassed by protesters.
The former deputy premier is meant to be on leave until June 15 but yesterday piped up to claim he was “entitled” to express his view on the issue and urged NSW Nationals MPs to vote against a law protecting women accessing abortion clinics.
“I always try to be upfront with people, people know I’ve got a pro-life position, I’m surrounded by people who don’t, I respect their view and they respect mine,” Mr Joyce, who has complained about a lack of privacy while selling his story to a national television network, told Prime7 News.
“And of course all of us have a duty to express our views in a debate and not only am I allowed to do, I’m entitled to do and I think in some instances you’re obligated to do.”
Mr Joyce announced his leave on May 29 “following a routine check-up”.
It happened in the lead-up to a controversial interview with him and partner Vikki Campion — for which they pocketed $150,000 from Seven — airing on television.
In the interview, Joyce’s lover claimed people in federal Parliament tried to pressure her into having an abortion but she didn’t follow through with the procedure.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull denied the allegation.
A spokesman for Mr Joyce did not respond to request for comment last night. NSW Nationals leader John Barilaro said he hadn’t received a call from Mr Joyce but said: “Barnaby can do what Barnaby wants to do.”
The new law Mr Joyce so vehemently opposes would impose a 150m exclusion zone around abortion clinics and make it an offence to film staff and patients without their consent.
“The safe access bill is something I’ve been quite proud of as the leader of the NSW Nationals … I’ll be supporting that bill as will the majority of the National Party,” Mr Barilaro said.
When asked to weigh in on Mr Joyce’s future, he said: “It’s never up to the individual politicians. Our future is actually determined by the public at an election.”