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‘Rosaries from our ovaries’: Coalition MPs face mounting criticism over abortion claims
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‘Rosaries from our ovaries’: Coalition MPs face mounting criticism over abortion claims

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Greens leader Larissa Waters has demanded a number of male Coalition MPs accused of mixing up stillbirths and late-term abortions to withdraw from a debate on proposed leave rights.
Andrew Hastie, Tony Pasin, Henry Pike and Barnaby Joyce all used speeches in the Federation Chamber of federal parliament on Wednesday to propose new laws that would ensure women who experience a stillbirth or neonatal death continue to have access to maternity leave could have “unintended consequences”.
“We are once again seeing a culture war and anti-choice positioning from the far-right fringe, which in no other context cares about women’s rights, but is deeply concerned about what women can do with their own wombs,” Waters said Thursday.

“How about they take their rosaries from our ovaries.”

Greens leader Larissa Waters (left) has condemned the “anti-choice positioning” of several backstabbing coalition MPs who have questioned the “unintended consequences” of the Baby Priya bill. Source: MONKEY / Mick Tsikas

‘Baby Priya’s Bill’ was sparked by the case of a mother who, after telling her employer for 11 years that her baby daughter Priya had died at just 42 days old, was faced with negotiating a return-to-work timeline that she had not planned – while simultaneously grieving her loss.

It introduces a new principle into the Fair Work Act that employer-funded paid parental leave should not be withdrawn because a child is stillborn or dies, sparking bipartisan support before the last election.
Employment Minister Amanda Rishworth said its aim is to “ensure there is greater clarity on employer-funded paid parental leave for parents dealing with the tragedy of stillbirth or death of a child” and to “provide certainty to grieving parents at the most difficult time of their lives”.
In 2022, more than 3,000 families lost a child to stillbirth or within the first 28 days of birth, according to Australian Institute of Health and Welfare data released in July.
Hastie confirmed the ‘intent’ of the bill in principle, but said he felt it necessary to question the possible ‘unintended consequences’ – a claim also made against the Stillborn Baby Payment.
“This place is a place where we can come and express our opinions in conscience. And it’s no secret that I am against late-term abortions,” he said.

“I think it is a noble and good cause and the Baby Priya bill deserves our support for that reason. I note the sensitivity around this, but I call on the government to make it clear that it does not apply to late-term abortions.”

“It should be available to people who want to become parents but by the grace of God did not become parents because of that incident or outcome,” Pasin said.
Joyce said: “The day after a child is born, no matter what medical condition or disability there is, you have no right to interfere in his life. And so the day before, in our opinion, is the same.”
But Health Minister Mark Butler has rejected the mergers, defending the definitions in the bill as “very clear” and noting that a termination is “very different” from a stillbirth or neonatal death that occurs due to a “natural, spontaneous event”.
“Trying to put these two things together is, I think, a very cynical, deeply disturbing political exercise,” he told ABC’s Afternoon Briefing on Wednesday.

“The men who do this – and they are all men – know the difference between stillbirth and abortion.”

“How often, when we talk about curtailing women’s rights, curtailing women’s support through these incredibly important and sometimes harrowing events in their lives, is it men who are in charge? I’ve never heard a coalition woman come into the room and make these arguments,” Butler said.
Liberal Senator Jane Hume said she had not heard the contributions from her colleagues in the House, but warned against turning the debate into “a political football”.
An opposition spokesperson told SBS News that while “members of the Liberal and National parties have always had the right to express their views… the coalition has agreed to the passage of this bill”.
“The bill went through the usual processes and received strong support from the party room.”

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