Tony Abbott speaks to crowd, slams Greens at anti-abortion rally in Sydney

Tony Abbott has slammed an attempt by the Greens to improve access to abortion at a rally outside NSW parliament, describing it as “a ferocious assault on freedom of conscience”.

Tony Abbott has slammed an attempt by the Greens to improve access to abortion in NSW, describing it as “a ferocious assault on freedom of conscience” that would force healthcare workers to facilitate the termination of pregnancies.

The former Liberal prime minister unleashed on the Greens after speaking outside state parliament at an anti-abortion rally that caused traffic chaos in the Sydney CBD, telling The Daily Telegraph the party was trying to “drive Christians and other people of faith out of the public square”.

The rally shut down Macquarie St on Wednesday night, with hundreds of people holding images of Jesus and blue and pink balloons as they gathered to oppose the legislation.

Mr Abbott was one of many speakers who addressed those who attended, including Catholic Archbishop Anthony Fisher.

He had previously opposed abortion when the parliament debated its decriminalisation five years ago, describing the proposed bill at the time as “effectively infanticide on demand”.

Former prime minister Tony Abbott speaks at an anti-abortion rally outside NSW parliament. Picture: Facebook

The new bill, brought forward by upper house Greens MP Dr Amanda Cohn, has four key elements, but only one is expected to pass parliament, allowing nurse practitioners and endorsed midwives to prescribe medical termination tablets up to nine weeks.

The other three aspects of the bill would change the conscientious objection process for doctors and nurses, require the health minister to ensure access to abortions across the state, and remove mandatory reporting for health workers.

Protesters held up posters, images of Jesus and pink and blue balloons. Picture: Facebook

However, The Daily Telegraph understands these proposed changes do not have enough support and will likely be dropped.

The bill passed its first stage in the upper House on Wednesday 24 votes to 17, with amendments to be debated on Thursday.

It will then go to the lower house, where MPs will next week take part in a conscientious vote, meaning they will not have to vote along the party line.

University of Adelaide law professor Joanna Howe has led a series of protests against the bill in the last month, including the latest rally on the doorsteps of parliament.

The anti-abortion advocate has whipped up opposition to the legislation, with Mr Abbott and religious leaders joining her cause.

On social media on Wednesday night, Ms Howe announced she would letterbox the seat of Mount Druitt on Thursday to continue the protest.

Originally published as Tony Abbott speaks to crowd, slams Greens at anti-abortion rally in Sydney