Women's reproductive rights won't come undone under a coalition government, an opposition senator has confirmed, as the culture war over abortion reignites. or signup to continue reading Pregnancy termination has emerged as one of the biggest issues in the Queensland and US presidential elections as politicians threaten access to the medical procedure. Coalition senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has taken the fight to Australia's national stage after saying late-term abortion is akin to "infanticide" and urging other members of the opposition not to shy away from the issue.
But opposition finance spokeswoman Jane Hume poured cold water on suggestions the federal coalition would change abortion laws, maintaining reproductive rights had always been an issue of conscience within the Liberal Party. "A Dutton-led coalition government has no plans, no policy and no interest in unwinding women's reproductive rights," she told Sky News on Wednesday. "It has been an issue raised by fringe parties in a state election, it is not an issue for federal politics.
" Abortion is legal in every Australian state and territory but its access has come under attack in recent weeks. In South Australia, a proposal to ban pregnancy terminations after 28 weeks was shut down by a single vote on Thursday, and in Queensland, a state crossbencher announced he would introduce a bill to repeal abortion laws before walking back his proposal to "born alive" legislation. Similar proposals have appeared at Parlia.
