Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has blasted Coalition MPs for fuelling a federal debate on abortion laws, declaring there would be no change to policy if he wins government and they must show more “discipline” on the topic. Source: Guardian Australia.
Mr Dutton told MPs in his private weekly party-room address on Tuesday morning that the 11th-hour emergence of the issue during the recent Queensland state election campaign had cost the Liberal National party votes.
One Coalition MP, speaking anonymously, told Guardian Australia that Mr Dutton spoke “very firmly” on the issue in the context of the coming federal election, due by May, and warned against people speaking out, without singling out individuals.
The Northern Territory Country Liberal party senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price reopened debate at the federal level two weeks ago after she gave a media interview condemning later-term abortion, which she described as anything after the first trimester, and said full-term termination “becomes infanticide”.
Her comments came after the issue had emerged during the Queensland election campaign and dominated debate in the lead-up to polling day.
On Tuesday, Mr Dutton is understood to have addressed his remarks to all Liberal and Nationals parliamentarians, though most senators were not present due to estimates committee hearings. Senator Price was among those who did not attend the meeting.
Mr Dutton is believed to have said he understands that some people in the Coalition have strong views but that nothing could be gained by airing them as it is “a state issue”.
FULL STORY
Peter Dutton rules out Coalition abortion policy changes and blasts MPs for stirring debate (By Karen Middleton, Guardian Australia)
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