A seismic shift is underway in Australia's One Nation party as Senator Malcolm Roberts takes aim at its leader Pauline Hanson's stance on abortion. Speaking at a high-profile Christian conference in Brisbane, Senator Roberts declared his intention to push for an absolute ban on the procedure, a move that directly challenges Ms Hanson's position.
This stark divergence of views between two senior One Nation figures highlights the ongoing debate within the party and across Australia about the country's abortion laws. Ms Hanson has consistently argued that abortion should be restricted after 20 weeks of gestation, while Senator Roberts' new stance would effectively prohibit it entirely – a move that is likely to spark heated discussions both within the party and among wider Australian society.
The 'Church and State' summit, where Senator Roberts made his remarks, has been billed as an opportunity for Christian leaders to integrate Gospel principles into public life. The event's founder, Dave Pellowe, delivered a fiery speech condemning abortion as 'child sacrifice', and attributing the normalisation of the practice to what he termed 'demonic influence' from feminism.
The anti-abortion movement in Australia has gained significant momentum in recent years, driven in part by the decriminalisation of abortion across various states and territories. This trend is also being fuelled by the US Supreme Court's landmark Roe v Wade decision, which has sparked renewed debate about reproductive rights around the world – including in the UK, where British expats are among those most directly impacted.
In Australia, this activism has led to several legislative attempts at state level to reintroduce restrictions on abortion. For instance, a Queensland bill that would have prevented nurses and midwives from prescribing abortion medication was recently defeated, while a sex-selective abortion bill is currently before the New South Wales parliament. Meanwhile, in South Australia, a bill aimed at restricting abortion after 25 weeks – introduced by former One Nation MP Sarah Game – was decisively defeated last week.