Barnaby Joyce’s argument against decriminalising abortion in NSW slammed by critics

Barnaby Joyce has been accused of oppressing women after citing his infant son’s birth to argue against the bill to decriminalise abortion in NSW.

Barnaby Joyce has been accused of oppressing women after citing his infant son’s birth to argue against the bill to decriminalise abortion in New South Wales.

Mr Joyce made a statement to the House on Thursday just before Question Time regarding the bill, which will be debated in state parliament next week.

Should it pass, NSW will become the last state to decriminalise abortion.

Critics on social media were quick to condemn his argument, which invoked the birth of his second son, Tom, and tell Mr Joyce to stay out of state politics.

It’s a woman’s right to make her own choices, not yours or anybody else’s. You have your beliefs, let women have theirs.

— Tamie Stephens (@TamieStephens) August 1, 2019

“On the first of June, Vikki’s and my son Tom took his first breath. This was not the start of his life. The reality is, he was part of this world for some time and was merely passing from one room to another,” the former deputy prime minister said.

“We have, and had, an absolute responsibility to Tom, but we never owned him. He was more than merely a property right. He was a person.

“He attained this indivisible right by being alive long before he was born. Tom had rights even though he was not conscious of them. They should not be removed by a parliament. He committed no crime.

Just when you thought the world has had enough white, middle aged men preaching about abortion...enter Barnaby.#auspol https://t.co/2IulI5WC39

— Nick Squillari (@N_Squillari) August 1, 2019

“The hour of birth is an arbitrary point in modern medicine.

“Inside the womb, Tom kicked, punched, grabbed his umbilical cord, felt pain, slept and dreamt. With ultrasound he was most certainly seen in real human form.

“To say he didn’t have the rights of other human life is to say he must be subhuman.

“I don’t believe that any person, any doctor, any parliament, has the power today to declassify another person as less than human, and by so doing removing their fundamental right to be alive.

Many people welcome a developing pregnancy and an ensuing healthy baby, @Barnaby_Joyce, but not all. Abortion is a reasonable choice, for some #auspol #qt #ChildrenxChoice2019

— Jim Little (@JimLittle1) August 1, 2019

“In the NSW parliament they are debating whether Tom had no classification of human rights. Whether before his umbilical cord was cut, he was subhuman.”

At that point Mr Joyce’s time expired, and Labor MPs erupted, shouting at him to “sit down”.

He also took to Twitter to defend his argument.

“In politics you have to fight the hard fights not just the easy ones,” he posted.

“I believe the other side of this debate is not being heard and I have a duty to ventilate it.”

The NSW bill would make abortion available upon request up to 22 weeks into a pregnancy. Beyond that time, it would require the approval of two doctors.

Mr Joyce, thank you for speaking up for those who have no voice & for your unwavering commitment to the unborn. We stand with you. #auspol #nswpol #qldpol @Barnaby_Joyce https://t.co/sGsloWMIYM

— Cherish Life (@CherishLifeQLD) August 1, 2019

Premier Gladys Berejiklian supports it, but debate on the bill was delayed to next week to satisfy conservative Liberal MPs, who protested that the process was being rushed at a heated party room meeting on Tuesday