Premier Gladys Berejiklian forced to address abortion bill debate
Premier Gladys Berejiklian has been forced to answer questions about the abortion bill during a closed question and answer session at the NSW Liberal Party State Council.
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Premier Gladys Berejiklian has been forced to answer questions about the abortion bill during a closed question and answer session at the NSW Liberal Party State Council.
Among the questions posed by members included why the party had backed a bill put forward by a “left wing” independent.
Ms Berejiklian said she appreciated and respected the personal views of party members and her colleagues.
While the abortion bill was being dealt with via a conscience vote, this did not make the issue any easier, she said
“There is no easy way with dealing with them, especially when the are deeply personal,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“I just want to assure any delegate here, every member of the party here, that I am listening.
I’ve heard what my colleagues have said and what my party members have said and I appreciate your patience dealing with this process.”
Earlier, an urgency motion put forward by Ms Davies failed to be debated after being defeated 217 to 236.
In a move that is expected to be welcomed by Ms Davies, Ms Berejiklian also declared that failing to support a child who had been born alive would remain crime in NSW.
The response followed a question from a Haberfield branch party member to the gathered ministers on why the bill did not ensure that should a baby that had been born alive would be supported.
The party member, who drew applause from the gathering after asking the question, also raised the issue of how members could reconcile with God the decriminalising of the killing of an unborn child.
Ms Berejiklian, who jumped in to answer the question, said all babies born alive would be supported.
“ It’s currently a crime to not support a child that is born alive and it will remain a crime.
in NSW,” she said.
“It’s currently a crime and it will remain a crime to not support a child that is born alive.”
Earlier, hundreds of right to life protesters have gathered outside International Convention Centre in Darling Harbour to rally against the abortion bill.
The rally is taking place at the same time as the NSW Liberal Party State Council, where an urgency motion condemning the bill is set to be moved by the conservatives for debate.
The rally was addressed by Liberal MP Kevin Connolly, who has along with fellow frontbencher Tanya Davies has threatened to sit on the crossbench should key amendments to the decriminalisation bill not be adopted.
Mr Connolly accused his team of backing a bill put forward by independent Alex Greenwich at “breakneck speed” with little consultation.
“Im a member of the liberal party,” he said.
“I’ve been a member of the liberal party for 28 years. But I’ve been placed in a position for the last six weeks where I can no longer guarantee that.
“I’ve been placed in a position where my own side of politics has ambushed me and ambushed you and ambushed the community of NSW.”
To chants of “kill the process” and “stand for life”, Ms Davies urged protesters to keep fighting.
The former women’s minister has been lobbying for a ban on gender selection, legal provisions to ensure babies that survived an abortion were given appropriate care, and more rigour than “just two doctors” before an abortion beyond 22 weeks was conducted.
“It is not good enough for our communities to have such an extreme abortion bill rushed through the NSW Parliament and imposed upon our community without due process, without due consultation happening across every stakeholder across the community across this state,” she said.
“Ladies and gentlemen, keep fighting”
Health minister Brad Hazzard, who is under fire from conservative MPs for his role in pushing forward with the bill, will not be attending the meeting, instead heading overseas for a medical conference.