Mia Freedman criticises MP Gabrielle Upton over abortion bill stance
Media entrepreneur Mia Freedman has singled out Liberal MP Gabrielle Upton for criticism over her stance on the abortion bill, claiming “neither church nor state has a legal role to play in determining what a woman does with her body”.
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Mamamia founder Mia Freedman has singled out Liberal MP Gabrielle Upton for her stance on the abortion bill.
Ms Freedman, who calls Ms Upton’s electorate of Vaucluse home, took to Instagram at the weekend to call out her local member on the divisive issue.
Comparing Premier Gladys Berejiklian’s “respectfully ushering through the bill”, Ms Freedman took aim at the role church and state played in the decriminalisation of abortion.
“The woman on the right is Gabrielle Upton, my local member in the seat of Vaucluse who is opposing the bill because, as I understand it, she is Catholic,” Ms Freedman wrote on Saturday.
“This is confusing to me because I thought church and state were separate institutions. And like more than 70 per cent of NSW voters I believe that neither church nor state has a legal role to play in determining what a woman does with her body.”
The bill is due to hit the upper house this week after passing in the lower house 59 to 31 last month.
Ms Freedman’s post saw more than 400 comments at the time of publication, with some disagreeing with the media personality’s stance.
“Mia, I would like to respectfully comment that your views do not reflect all of the Australian population or insta followers,” Joanna Bowman wrote.
“I stand with Gabrielle Upton, along with millions of other Australian men and women.
“(The post) seems a little anti-feminist if you ask me. Please don’t assume that all your followers support abortion, a lot of us don’t.”
Ms Upton, the former environment minister, moved into the position of secretary to the premier after the state election, where she claimed a significant margin over her rivals in the eastern suburbs seat.
“The bill raises sensitive ethical and moral issues so the Premier gave MPs a conscience vote,” she said.
“This means that we can vote based on our own experiences and personal beliefs and are not bound by the views our electorate or party.
“That said, lots of local residents reached out to me and it is fair to say they hold strong views both for and against the bill. I thank them for taking me into their confidence, especially with their personal stories.
“The debate inside parliament has been respectful and heartfelt and we are at our best when we do that.”
Premier Gladys Berejiklian appeared to back Ms Upton’s right to vote on the bill based on her religious views at a press conference this morning.
“A conscience vote means everybody makes decisions according to what they think the issues are and some people make different decisions,” she said.
“I based my decision on the fact I believe, irrespective of my personal views, that I’m governing for the broader community and I also consider the views of my community.”
“Other people will consider different points of view when they’re making these decisions — it’s not for me to tell members what to think.”
“Conscience votes are very rare. It’s in these rare circumstances where members are given the freedom to speak their mind outside of the party structure and party discipline and I encourage members to do that.”
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