Political push to 'protect' babies born alive after abortion

Two politicians are pushing for laws similar to the ‘born alive’ bills raised in the US, where abortions have become a lightning rod in politics.

Two politicians are pushing for laws similar to the ‘born alive’ bills raised in the US, where abortions have become a lightning rod in politics.

Conservative members of the Coalition are seeking to bring abortion into the political debate, backing a move that would force health practitioners to provide care to keep late term foetuses alive after termination. 

Nationals Senator Matt Canavan and Liberal Senator Alex Antic put forward a private members bill to parliament this week, titled the Children Born Alive Protection Bill, that would “enshrine an offence” for health practitioners who did not provide medical care or treatment to a child “born alive”.

Figures from Queensland showed that between 2005 and 2015 just over 200 babies were alive at the late time of termination, with the State’s clinical guidelines stating practitioners’ should “support the woman’s wishes and preferences” and “not provide life sustaining treatment” to the foetuses.

Senator Canavan said babies that were alive at the time of termination still deserved medical care.

“Tragically, in some Australian states there are no requirements to provide medical care to a baby born alive during an abortion,” he said.

Senator Antic said not providing care to a foetus after its termination was in contravention with Australia’s commitment to human rights.

“A child that survives an attempted termination of pregnancy should be entitled to the same level of medical care and treatment as any newborn child.” Senator Antic said.

It follows abortion becoming a lightning rod in US politics, with the Supreme Court in June overturning the abortion rights ruling in Roe vs Wade.

Monash University research fellow in global and women’s health Dr Shelly Makleff said bill put forward by Senators Canavan and Antic was “clearly another move in a playbook to create more barriers in abortion care” in Australia.

“This is similar to the so called ‘born alive’ bills that have been raised in the US. They rarely, if ever, become law and are widely agreed upon by medical experts and scientists that they’re medically unnecessary,” she told the Australian.

“In Australia, this law is irrelevant in 99 per cent of cases. Most abortions at later gestation are due to genetic conditions that limit viability.”

Sydney University academic gynaecologist and founder of Clinicians for Choice Kirsten Black said there would be fewer late term abortions if access in Australia was improved.

Only 10 per cent of general practitioners are registered to provide early term abortion care, 

“Less than 1 per cent of abortions done after 20 weeks anyway … and many would be preventable if there was better access,” she said.

The Former Nationals Leader Barnaby Joyce welcomed the private members bill that would prompt Australia to have its own debate about abortion.

“I support it,” he said.

Nationals Senator Perin Davey said while she was “100 per cent pro-choice” the idea of medical care not being afforded to a foetus that was alive at termination concerned her.

She supported the bill being referred to a parliamentary inquiry for further information to be gathered.

Western Australian Liberal Senator Matt O’Sullivan also said he proposal needed to be discussed, while Nationals MP Henry Pike said the bill “raised an important issue”.

 “This is an issue we should grapple with … it’s worthy of further debate,” he said.

 “Maybe there’s an inflated perspective or maybe the issue is worse than we anticipate.”

 United Australia Party Senator Ralph Babbet said he would be “speaking up” about the issue when it came back to parliament.

Nationals leader David Littleproud and Coalition leader Peter Dutton did not comment on the matter.

Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care Ged Kearney said access to affordable termination was “a crucial part of healthcare for women”.

“In light of Roe v Wade and the restriction of abortion rights in the US, I know that many people are concerned about the barriers that exist in Australia to termination,” she said.