Queensland senators voted 31 to 18 against a measure that would have ensured that abortion survivors are provided with medical care rather than being left to die, a provision that exists in the states of South Australia and New South Wales.
A state parliamentary inquiry regarding the Termination of Pregnancy (Live Births) Amendment Bill 2024 had recently heard from a tearful midwife who recalled seeing abortion survivors left alone to die, and one baby lived for up to five hours.
“We’ve had babies born alive after terminations [abortions] from 15 to 22 weeks, born alive, gasping for air, moving and having a palpable heart rate – fighting for their lives as we as humans are designed to do”, Louise Adsett told the inquiry.
“These babies deserve better. They deserve to have the same rights that all of us human beings have.”
Responding to the “heartless, cruel, and barbaric” vote against the measure, noted pro-life professor Dr Joanna Howe said: “I actually can’t understand how anybody, how any Australian, can vote against a motion calling for equal treatment for those children, especially after the harrowing, groundbreaking, courageous testimony of Louise Adsett the day before.”
SPUC Comment
A SPUC spokesperson said: “This measure would not have changed Australia’s existing abortion limit but simply have made it a legal requirement to provide humane care to newborn survivors of abortion.
“As Professor Howe rightly says, the vote against this measure exposes the heartlessness and cruelty of Queensland senators who prioritise abortion ideology over the humanity of unborn babies and the midwives who are forced to stand back and do nothing as they gasp for breath.
“The media denial that downplays this barbaric reality is equally shocking, and many journalists, just like the politicians, have sold out to the pro-abortion lobby. This is one reason why SPUC exists, to expose this conspiracy of silence and fight for the equality of all people, especially the unborn.”
