Greens Move to Discharge Controversial Anti-Abortion Bill in Senate

The Greens have announced plans to force a Senate vote to discharge the controversial Human Rights (Children Born Alive Protection) Bill, a private senators' bill co-sponsored by Coalition members Matt Canavan and Alex Antic. Scheduled for November 26, the move challenges the Coalition to either abandon the bill or defy their leader, Peter Dutton, who recently urged members to avoid public debates on abortion. The bill, which has been on the Senate notice paper for two years, seeks to mandate medical practitioners to save the life of a child born alive after a termination. Greens senator Lari

The Greens have announced plans to force a Senate vote to discharge the controversial Human Rights (Children Born Alive Protection) Bill, a private senators' bill co-sponsored by Coalition members Matt Canavan and Alex Antic. Scheduled for November 26, the move challenges the Coalition to either abandon the bill or defy their leader, Peter Dutton, who recently urged members to avoid public debates on abortion. The bill, which has been on the Senate notice paper for two years, seeks to mandate medical practitioners to save the life of a child born alive after a termination. Greens senator Larissa Waters criticized the legislation as a “thinly veiled attack on women’s rights,” emphasizing the need for focus on making abortion affordable and accessible. Dutton, in a party-room address, had warned that reopening debate on the sensitive issue could harm the Coalition, particularly ahead of the federal election. However, Waters accused both major parties of attempting to sideline discussions on women’s reproductive rights. The government, wary of divisions within its own ranks, has avoided progressing the bill, leaving it dormant. The Greens’ push to discharge the legislation aims to expose internal conflicts within both the Coalition and the government while keeping women’s rights at the forefront of the debate. If the motion proceeds, it could reignite a contentious issue that both major parties have sought to avoid, reflecting the ongoing challenges in addressing abortion in Australian politics.