Imagine a political debate so heated that it sparks outrage among colleagues, revealing deep divisions within a party. That’s exactly what happened when conservative Coalition MPs in Australia raised concerns about paid parental leave being applied to late-term abortions. The comments, made by figures like Andrew Hastie and Barnaby Joyce, left many liberal women in the party feeling appalled, according to Jane Hume. But here’s where it gets controversial: while senior figures like Sussan Ley dismissed these claims as ‘insensitive,’ the debate exposed a stark ideological rift within the Coalition.
Ley, a prominent voice in the party, sharply criticized her colleagues for suggesting that women might seek late-term abortions to access paid parental leave. ‘I’ve never heard of a woman doing that,’ echoed Melissa McIntosh, the shadow minister for women. Yet, the issue didn’t end there. Hastie, a rising star in the Liberal Party, openly questioned the ‘unintended consequences’ of ‘Priya’s Law,’ a bipartisan bill aimed at protecting paid parental leave for parents of stillborn or deceased children. ‘It’s no secret I oppose late-term abortions,’ he stated, sparking further backlash.
And this is the part most people miss: Medical experts overwhelmingly agree that the majority of late-term terminations are driven by severe health complications, not convenience. Dr. Nisha Khot, president of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, emphasized, ‘Losing a baby after 20 weeks is still losing a baby. We should approach this with compassion, not political maneuvering.’
Despite these insights, several right-wing MPs, including Hastie, Joyce, and others, attempted to amend the bill to exclude ‘intentional terminations.’ Their efforts failed, but the debate lingered. Workplace Relations Minister Amanda Rishworth later clarified, ‘This law is not about late-term abortion,’ expressing disappointment that some senators tried to reframe it as such.
The controversy didn’t just stop at policy—it became personal. Ley, speaking on ABC radio, passionately defended the bill, stating, ‘Losing a baby is one of the most devastating experiences a family can face. As a mother and grandmother, I find any commentary politicizing this deeply insensitive.’ Meanwhile, Hume, a former minister for finance and women’s economic security, criticized the comments as unnecessary, noting that many Liberal women supported reproductive rights.
Here’s the burning question: Should paid parental leave policies be influenced by moral or religious beliefs about abortion? Or should they remain focused on supporting families through grief and loss? The passage of Priya’s Law without amendments suggests a victory for compassion over ideology, but the debate is far from over. What’s your take? Do you think these concerns were valid, or did they distract from the bill’s core purpose? Let’s keep the conversation going in the comments.
