Peter Dutton tells Coalition members to avoid inflaming abortion debate

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has ruled out making abortion laws a federal election issue, telling coalition to avoid the issue which could risk turning off voters in inner-city seats.

During the Coalition’s weekly party room on Tuesday, Mr Dutton said arguments on abortion had cost the party votes in the Queensland state election and would be a distraction in the lead up to next year’s election.

Instead he called on MPs to remain “disciplined” and focus on federal legislative and policy issues, and not state issues.

Members were also told commenting on abortion would leave them open to attacks from Labor, who would seek to wedge the Coalition on the issue.

In response, Minister for Women Katy Gallagher accused Mr Dutton of ruling out abortion purely for political benefit.

“It is typical of Peter Dutton to view this purely as a matter of winning or losing votes, rather than any genuine commitment to women’s healthcare,” she said.

Instead she called on Mr Dutton to implore Coalition senators Matthew Canavan and Alex Antic to withdraw their Human Rights (Children Born Alive Protection) Bill 2022 which would force medical practitioners to provide treatment to babies “born alive” as a result of a termination.

During a Senate committee hearing into the Bill, medical and healthcare professionals questioned the evidence behind the proposed legislation, while legal professionals feared it had serious human rights concerns, and would create more barriers to reproductive healthcare.

Senator Gallagher said the Bill was also “dangerous” and threatened women’s rights, and should be withdrawn from the Senate.

“If Peter Dutton wants any credibility on women’s healthcare, he must immediately ensure Senators Canavan and Antic withdraw their dangerous anti-abortion Bill currently before the Senate,” she said.

“This is a test of Peter Dutton’s leadership, and a test of his commitment to the rights of Australian women.”While Coalition MPs have been told to avoid wading into the abortion debate, the Coalition will likely face scrutiny after Nationals senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price publicly said she didn’t “agree” with later term abortions past the first trimester, and labelled full-term abortions as “infanticide”.

A Coalition MP said Mr Dutton did not directly refer to Senator Price, or any other Coalition MPs, in comments made at Tuesday’s meeting.