Why is abortion a live issue in Australian politics again?

[Gough]

In both South Australia and Queensland we have seen renewed attacks on women's right to choose their own healthcare and Federally human cabbage patch doll Ralph Babet and Matt Canavan have been stirring the pot as well. What had seemed like fairly settled law here has once again become a target. Is abortion really an issue that Australians see as important moving forward, is this just right wing culture warriors here aping their American colleagues or is it a band aid to cover a lack of any real policy direction at all from the Liberal Party?

 

[Johnny Bananas]

And speaking of Queensland, Robbie Katter has realised how politically bad opening this Pandora's box was for him.

 

[peetoo]

In both South Australia and Queensland we have seen renewed attacks on women's right to choose their own healthcare and Federally human cabbage patch doll Ralph Babet and Matt Canavan have been stirring the pot as well. What had seemed like fairly settled law here has once again become a target. Is abortion really an issue that Australians see as important moving forward, is this just right wing culture warriors here aping their American colleagues or is it a band aid to cover a lack of any real policy direction at all from the Liberal Party?

Good point Gough. It’s these religio fascists who think their views should be mainstream…but they couldn’t be further from the truth

 

[tandino]

Because people hear 'killing 28 week old healthy unborn babies' and on face value it's an emotive and compelling argument.

 

[Freo Big Fella]

Because perennial failed candidates from the Christian Democrats (and other extremist fellow travellers) have realised the Liberal Party, at the state level, is ripe for the plucking.

Look at the Deemings, Stokers, Goirans, Antics, Rennicks etc - they wrangle their way into sinecured positions (generally in upper houses around the country) where they're protected by group tickets and free to push fringe policies to their hearts content.

 

[Johnny Bananas]

Because perennial failed candidates from the Christian Democrats (and other extremist fellow travellers) have realised the Liberal Party, at the state level, is ripe for the plucking.

Look at the Deemings, Stokers, Goirans, Antics, Rennicks etc - they wrangle their way into sinecured positions (generally in upper houses around the country) where they're protected by group tickets and free to push fringe policies to their hearts content.

I'm actually somewhat disappointed at the demise of (the original) Family First, and that Cory Bernardi's plan to get the hard right to split from the Liberal Party didn't succeed. They were hilarious as their own little group of nutcases, but by joining or staying in the tent, these Bible-thumping kooks have made the Liberal Party far more socially conservative. That's a problem because the Liberal Party have a serious chance of forming government everywhere outside of the most progressive of council areas.

This also directly led to the rise of the Teal independents, who are just socially liberal economic conservatives who realised the Liberal Party isn't for them while it's being held hostage by the kooks.

There are positives for those on the left I suppose. The moderate wing of the current Liberal Party would be a more attractive coalition partner for Labor in any hung parliament than the Greens, but there's no chance of a grand coalition with the Liberal Party in its current state. The Greens can at least drag Labor to the left whereas the moderate Liberals would drag Labor the other way. And the conservatives staying in the tent leads to political hand grenades like reopening the abortion issue, and leaders like Dutton who are a great advertisement for voting Labor.

But on balance, it's not a good thing. Even with all the baggage, the Liberal Party will still win elections, and the kooks will have power whenever that happens. I'm particularly annoyed at Albo being a massive disappointment in power, because if he continues being feckless he'll hand power to Mr Potato Head who will probably try to revisit abortion at the federal level if he has half a chance.

 

[blueboy25]

Because a lot of these grifters like Babet and Canavan love Trump and try to follow his lead not realising that only a small percentage of Australians are deeply religious compared to the US.

 

[Rotayjay]

Two words: Roe Wade. The overturning of Roe v Wade not only triggered the almost-instant destruction of abortion rights in almost half of America, it also emboldened anti-abortion advocates in Australia. The Australian right takes its cues from the Republican Party, so it follows naturally. They can't help themselves.

 

[peetoo]

Two words: Roe Wade. The overturning of Roe v Wade not only triggered the almost-instant destruction of abortion rights in almost half of America, it also emboldened anti-abortion advocates in Australia. The Australian right takes its cues from the Republican Party, so it follows naturally. They can't help themselves.

Except fiercely anti republican in australia. Work that one out

 

[Kyptastic]

Nampijinpa Price wants abortion on the national agenda

Political debate on abortion has been turbocharged by conservative pushes to change the law in Queensland and SA.

www.theage.com.au

Not sure Peter Dutton wants to fight the next election on Abortion, but it looks like his party is going to make it an issue for him to deal with.

 

[Power Raid]

- it would be a sad day, the day we reverse abortion rights

- If people think parent(s) who have an abortion are bad parents, then they have done the world a favour by having an abortion

 

[barreness]

I think we overstate our abortion access here.

Maybe a Perth experience but the last time I chipped in for an abortion it was $800, it's mostly a private operation and the public system doesn't really deal with it except for medically required ones. This was a surgical one, not a pill one tbf

Also the phone lines that deal with questioning mothers are often backed by religious organisations that will encourage the pregnancy, it's straight natalist propaganda without any help on the real end of dealing with a kid

 

[Gough]

Has anyone asked Jacinta Price how as Shadow Minister for Indigenous Affairs she thinks putting abortion back on the agenda will help Close the Gap?

 

[campbell]

Has anyone asked Jacinta Price how as Shadow Minister for Indigenous Affairs she thinks putting abortion back on the agenda will help Close the Gap?

mmmm, nope.

Mainstream Australia do not care about closing the gap.
They think we get too much now, and should stfu.

 

[Gough]

Decrying the Voice referendum at every turn as divisive before demanding that abortion is back on the national agenda takes a pretty special sort of cognitive dissonance.

 

[GreyWind]

It's always the same with the forced birth movement. None of their arguments can be made on the basis of evidence or best practice.

Also if you don't want an abortion don't get one. Unless you know https://joycearthur.com/abortion/the-only-moral-abortion-is-my-abortion/

 

[ElectricG]

Because people hear 'killing 28 week old healthy unborn babies' and on face value it's an emotive and compelling argument.

Late term abortions of healthy babies/fetuses do happen. They are the exception rather than the rule. But to me it doesn’t seem like a fringe or extreme view that it shouldn’t be happening.

 

[Seeds]

In both South Australia and Queensland we have seen renewed attacks on women's right to choose their own healthcare and Federally human cabbage patch doll Ralph Babet and Matt Canavan have been stirring the pot as well. What had seemed like fairly settled law here has once again become a target. Is abortion really an issue that Australians see as important moving forward, is this just right wing culture warriors here aping their American colleagues or is it a band aid to cover a lack of any real policy direction at all from the Liberal Party?

In qld it wasnt coming from the liberal party. It was one guy from the katter party.

 

[Gough]

Another public hospital denying women healthcare.

Queanbeyan Hospital bans surgical abortions, telling local health workers the procedure 'does not currently sit within' its scope

An email obtained by the ABC confirms Queanbeyan Hospital has stopped providing surgical terminations for fetal anomalies and medical reasons, restricting access to a legal and time-critical form of reproductive health care.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Bunk Moreland]

In both South Australia and Queensland we have seen renewed attacks on women's right to choose their own healthcare and Federally human cabbage patch doll Ralph Babet and Matt Canavan have been stirring the pot as well. What had seemed like fairly settled law here has once again become a target. Is abortion really an issue that Australians see as important moving forward, is this just right wing culture warriors here aping their American colleagues or is it a band aid to cover a lack of any real policy direction at all from the Liberal Party?

I think you’ve pretty much nailed it. The right wing nutters are all blind drunk off the Trump win and will be for some time.

 

[King Patty]

I think if you polled most people, they would say abortion isn't really a political issue and should be the mothers choice and they should have access to be able to do it.

Where people differ would be on the age limit where abortions are allowed to happen. 3mths/6,mths/9mths etc
Again its really the mothers choice of when it happens but people would have an idea on when best.

Mental health wise, there probably needs to be services available to potential mothers and fathers pre and post abortion.
It generally is a thing people are reluctant to talk about.

I have a mate who convinced his girl friend at the time to have an abortion as they were young and he felt too immature for a child. They broke up partly because of it (she wanted to have it) and he sometimes regrets it, like mentions how old they would have been.

Have also been in situation where ectopic pregnancy meant had to be aborted. Thats different. But leads to different potential outcomes if could have survived re future kids etc.

But what hit home to me was hearing someone talking about a chat he had with his dad, where he told his dad of the abortions they had had etc, he was similar young and wasn't ready. And his dad said why are you killing my grand children. He since had 4 kids, but does think about the ones that were aborted too.

Where do people believe life begins. for me it doesn't feel that real until they are born. But imagine it could be different for everyone.

And there was also that netflix documentary about that aus water polo player Kelli lane.

 

[faible]

Again its really the mothers choice of when it happens but people would have an idea on when best.

It's not up to other people. It's up to the people involved and the medical professionals. The latter group commonly get missed when discussing this topic. You don't just pop down the street to get an abortion, and the further in to the pregnancy you are, the more involved medical professionals will be.

Mental health wise, there probably needs to be services available to potential mothers and fathers pre and post abortion.

There is, and it should still be better funded. Mental Health is a major issue that way too many people refuse to vote on.

 

[King Patty]

meant more the timing is the issue where a lot of people would like to add their opinion.
but yes agree it should come back to the mother.

 

[Rotayjay]

Playing devil's advocate here: is it that some surgeons have performed surgical abortions and are saying 'I'm not going through that experience again'? But as a healthcare professional you sign up to performing the procedure, even if you think it's yucky. Granted, pulling parts of a foetus out isn't just a bit yucky.

 

[Blue1980]

I think its largely conservatives here jizzing over whats happening in the US and hoping they can get their agenda going here.