‘Assault on our rights’: Tony Abbott’s angry pro-life speech days after conservatives wiped out

The election has been described as a widespread rejection of conservatism in Australia, but anti-abortion protesters have rallied against plans to reshape one state’s healthcare.

Tony Abbott has delivered a speech at a pro-life protest outside state parliament, just days after the Liberal Party’s crushing defeat in the Federal Election.

The loss has been described as a widespread rejection of conservatism in Australia. Nevertheless, throngs of anti-abortion protesters lined the streets to argue against a bill that plans to reshape healthcare in NSW.

Footage on social media shows the sizable crowd cheering at news of Greens leader Adam Bandt’s likely ousting from the seat of Melbourne before the former PM addressed the gathering.

The former Prime Minister openly condemned a Greens bill looking to expand medical access to abortions, describing it as an “assault on our fundamental rights and freedoms”.

“I’m not here to talk about abortion, though I deeply regret the fact there are tens of thousands of abortions every year in this country and there shouldn’t be.

“I’m not here to talk about religion, although I take our faith seriously, and I wish it was held more widely and more enthusiastically.

“But I am here to talk about freedom of conscience. Because freedom of conscience should be at the heart of any decent, civilised society and this legislation which is about to be rammed through the state parliament is a fundamental assault on freedom of conscience.

Tony Abbott has delivered an angry speech at a pro-life protest in NSW, just days after the Liberal Party’s crushing defeat in the Federal Election.

“What this legislation is attempting to do is force every health professional into facilitating abortion.

“It is extending the current obligation to refer into an obligation to facilitate.

Mr Abbott also argued it was a ploy to “cancel conscientious healthcare professionals” of different faiths and suggested religion had a place in the healthcare space.

“This is designed to drive conscientious health professionals out of the system and is designed to take religious institutions about our healthcare system,“ he continued.

“It is absolutely shameful the Minns government is taking time to force this Greens bill through the parliament.

“Shame on the Minns government, for engaging in this extremist conspiracy with the Greens.

“This is an attempt to cancel conscientious healthcare professionals. It’s an attempt to drive good Christian people, and good Muslim people and Jewish people out of our health system.

“It’s designed to drive institutions of principle and faith out of our system.

“It is an assault on our fundamental rights and freedoms, and it must be fought.”

Originally published as ‘Assault on our rights’: Tony Abbott’s angry pro-life speech days after conservatives wiped out