Conservative MPs pressure Premier to delay abortion bill
Premier Gladys Berejiklian has been forced to delay the introduction of a bill to decriminalise abortion, with conservative MPs furious because they have not had enough time to consult religious constituents. SEE WHO’S VOTING FOR AND AGAINST THE BILL.
NSW
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Gladys Berejiklian was forced to cave on an ambitious timeline to push an abortion bill through parliament after a party room revolt with conservative MPs fuming they were blindsided by a Saturday night email announcing the major legislation.
Members of the lower house received an email from independent MP Alex Greenwich at 11pm on Saturday offering them a briefing on the bill, which would regulate the termination of pregnancies as a medical procedure.
At this point there was already significant support for the legislation, which has been co-sponsored by 15 MPs from all sides of politics.
The bill was also overseen by Health Minister Brad Hazzard and drafted by a group of cross-party MPs — but some members were unaware of the working group’s existence and felt it was kept secret.
After signalling her support for change, the Premier caved to pressure from conservative MPs who pushed her to delay debating the bill until next Tuesday during a heated party room meeting.
It was originally expected the legislation would be debated on Thursday.
It’s understood several Liberal MPs raised concerns the bill had been “rushed” including Police Minister David Elliott, Riverstone MP Kevin Conolly, Mulgoa MP Tanya Davies and Vaucluse MP Gabrielle Upton.
Mr Elliott said he would oppose the bill “because there has not been enough time to consult with my electorate in Baulkham Hills”.
“Normally when bills are introduced they ‘lay on the table’ for a period of days before being debated,” one Liberal MP said. “Even with the change today, this bill is still being fast-tracked compared to normal process.”
One Nationals MP said “this is how greyhounds went so wrong” — implying there had been a lack of consultation with members — while another Liberal MP attacked Mr Hazzard for standing next to Mr Greenwich at a press conference on Sunday.
The Reproductive Healthcare Reform Bill 2019 allows abortion upon request from a registered doctor up to 22-weeks gestation. Abortions would be legal beyond 22 weeks, but would require the approval of two doctors.
Mr Greenwich said he was “not trying to rush the process” and that a number of members had taken him up on his offer to brief them.
However, he noted that none of the MPs with concerns about the bill had sought more information.
Catholic Archbishop of Sydney Anthony Fisher and other religious leaders slammed the reforms. In a letter to the Premier, co-signed by other church heads he described the bill as an “attack upon the rights of people of faith” and said there hadn’t been sufficient opportunity for public consultation.
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