Thousands gathered outside NSW Parliament House on Wednesday evening to protest against an extreme bill that would – among other things – allow the NSW Health Minister to force Catholic hospitals to provide abortions and remove conscientious objection rights from health care practitioners.
The footpaths on both sides of Macquarie Street were already filling up thirty minutes before the rally’s official start. By the time it began, police needed to close two lanes of traffic to accommodate the burgeoning crowd.
Anti-abortion advocate Professor Joanna Howe welcomed the crowd, saying: “We put the call out less than a week ago; I was hoping we would get 200 people here; we’ve got thousands.”
While the bill is a private members’ bill tabled by Greens MLC Amanda Cohn, both the government and the opposition granted party members a conscience vote.
NSW Premier Chris Minns confirmed party members would receive a conscience vote but told media he did not support changes to conscientious objection provisions. “This could have the consequences out of the healthcare system when we need them the most, so I won’t be voting for it,” he said.
Howe addressed the Premier’s comments on the bill directly, telling the crowd that it was the job of the government to ensure it did not proceed. “It is not enough for the Premier of this state, Chris Minns, to say that he will not personally vote for it. NSW Labor is the party of government, and they must block this bill.”
She also addressed the narrative being pushed by the bill’s sponsor.
“Amanda Cohn from the Greens has said this isn’t about attacking people of faith, it’s not about attacking Christians,” Howe said. “Why do we have this power in this bill that says that the Minister for Health can order hospitals to perform abortions? If that’s not her goal, take it out of the bill,” she challenged.
Liberal member of parliament, Susan Carter, called for the “bad bill” to be rejected in its entirety. “When businesses act unconscionably it generally costs people money. But when medical professionals act against conscience there is often a life at stake. And what is more important?” she asked. “We need stronger consciences to shape our society – not a State that seeks to limit how we can use our conscience.” As she addressed the crowd, she was joined by many of her parliamentary colleagues, including Anthony Roberts, Natasha Maclaren-Jones, Tim James and Rachel Merton.
NSW registered nurse Naomi Bunker spoke about the real threats to nurses who conscientiously object. “We’re already struggling under the weight of a system that diminishes our conscience, disregards our ethical concerns and demands our participation in something that most of us don’t support,” she said. “This legislation doesn’t expand choice; it expands coercion… Abortion is not healthcare. It’s about ideology steamrolling over ethics, safety and common sense.”
“To the politicians watching, we see you, we will not comply.”
Women’s Forum Australia CEO, Rachael Wong was next to address the crowd, taking aim directly at the proponents of the bill. “It is not enough for the Greens to have abortion until birth in NSW, the Greens want more abortion,” she said. “NSW Greens MP and former abortionist, Amanda Cohn, couches her radical and authoritarian new bill in the language of women’s rights… this is a bill put forward by a party that doesn’t even know what a woman is,” Wong quipped, extracting roars of laughter and applause from the crowd.
NSW Australian Christian Lobby State Director Joshua Rowe thanked politicians, police, volunteers and everyone who showed up, and ended the evening in prayer.
There is no timeline set for the bill’s debate, however, it could begin as early as Wednesday, 26 March.
