Nationals senator Matt Canavan says he won’t pull his controversial abortion bill, and has lashed the Greens for attempting to “censor and silence debate”. Source: News.com.au.
Next Tuesday, the Greens will move for the bill to force medical professionals to save “babies born alive” as a result of abortions, to be discharged and removed from further debate and a potential vote in the Senate.
However, Senator Canavan, who alongside Liberal senator Alex Antic is sponsoring the bill, is resisting the call and has accused the minor party of being scared of discussion.
“This is an attempt to censor and silence debate this country,” Senator Canavan said yesterday.
“My bill doesn’t change abortion procedures, doesn’t restrict abortion procedures.
“It simply says that everybody, every Australian, deserves to have medical care appropriate to their circumstances. I will always defend that.”
Greens spokesperson for women Larissa Waters said the proposed legislation was a “thinly veiled attack on women’s rights to choose to terminate a pregnancy,” and said both major parties needed to come together to see it scrapped.
Senator Canavan’s comments come after Opposition Leader Peter Dutton instructed Coalition members to remain disciplined against fuelling abortion debate on a federal level during a private meeting earlier this month.
MPs were told abortion should remain a state issue, and could risk the Coalition losing votes in inner-city seats and attacks from Labor.
However, Senator Canavan confirmed yesterday Mr Dutton, who has publicly stated he is pro-choice, has not asked him to withdraw the bill.
FULL STORY
Nationals senator Matt Canavan refuses to pull ‘born alive’ abortion bill, accuses Greens of censorship (By Jessica Wang, News.com.au)
