Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell takes aim at pro-life activists after pregnancy comment backlash
Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell has hit back at pro-life activists in parliament, describing “anti-choice” campaigners as also being “anti-women”.
Victoria
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Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell has hit back at pro-life activists who attacked her online after she revealed her pregnancy had strengthened her pro-choice beliefs.
Anti-abortion campaigners were quick to condemn Ms Purcell – who is expecting her first child with federal Labor MP Josh Burns – after she revealed that she was “more grateful than ever before” to have been able to previously access abortions.
“If you’ve followed my work for a while, you’ll know this isn’t my first pregnancy,” she wrote on social media.
“But it is the first I’ve chosen to continue.
“I could do this on my own terms and timeline, and will always fight for everybody to have the same.”
High profile pro-life activist professor Joanna Howe was among those who took aim at the Victorian Animal Justice Party MP, suggesting she was more concerned about turtles than babies.
Ms Howe congratulated Ms Purcell on her pregnancy before launching into an attack.
“Georgie Purcell when she says this isn’t my first pregnancy, what she’s really saying is this isn’t my first baby because she killed her first baby,” she told her 57.4k followers.
“She had an abortion and the purpose of the abortion is to kill that baby
“In Georgie’s world and the laws that she’s fought so hard for … you can kill Georgie’s child right up until birth, no questions asked, but step on a turtle egg and you’ll get a massive fine.”
Others on social media called Ms Purcell’s social media post “twisted” and accused her of only having a child when it is “convenient”.
“Georgie Purcell it’s incredibly twisted to celebrate the baby you killed in your prior abortion,” one person wrote.
“Georgie wants this baby girl, so she’ll let her live,” wrote another.
In parliament on Wednesday, Ms Purcell hit back at the anti-abortion advocates, saying her body and choices are not “a possession for you to advance your harmful, shameful and dangerous political agendas”.
“Abortion will always be part of my journey into motherhood – and I will never shy away from saying it.
“So to those anti-choice, and frankly anti-women activists, thank you for reminding me that I will never stop using my platform to ensure that my daughter grows up in a state where she always has a right to choose.”
Ms Purcell and Mr Burns, who got together early last year, will be welcoming their first child together early next year.
In an exclusive interview with the Herald Sun on Sunday to announce their baby news, Ms Purcell said she was a “welcome surprise”.
Mr Burns, who is already a father, said his daughter Tia was “super excited” to be getting a sister.
“Life sometimes can throw surprising and beautiful things at you and I am really excited to share this with Georgie,” Mr Burns said.
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Originally published as Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell takes aim at pro-life activists after pregnancy comment backlash
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