STATEMENTS BY SENATORS

Senator ROBERTS (Queensland) (13:48): As I speak, outside Parliament House is a gathering of Christians and humanitarians, called to support Mr Llew O'Brien MP's introduction of the Human Rights (Children Born Alive Protection) Bill 2026 in the House of Representatives. One Nation supports this bill. Our leader, Senator Hanson, and our deputy leader, Barnaby Joyce, are addressing the rally.

There's no disagreement on the number of babies who are born alive from a failed abortion in Australia. The disagreement goes to the viability of the baby. Health authorities would say all these babies—around 70 a year—were not viable and lived fleetingly.

Evidence from healthcare workers, though, would say as many as one baby a week was viable—a healthy human life extinguished, allowed to die alone on a cold steel kidney dish or in a biowaste container. The Left challenge this, although there's no logic to their argument. Dr Christina Francis, CEO of the American Association of Pro-Life OBGYNs, has stated there's no medical reason for a late-term abortion, a position that has not been disproven.

In the event of a medical threat to the life of the mother, an emergency C-section is faster, safer and more effective than an abortion. Late-term abortions exist because the mother is demanding the killing of her baby, the death of her baby. It's that simple.

The political Left mindset says any compromise on abortion risks all abortion. To these people, if one healthy baby a week has to be cruelly sacrificed, then so be it. If no child is suffering that fate, then pass the bill and it can gather dust.

No, you prove my case. One Nation speaks for the infertile couples who will praise God for the gift of an adopted child, a life saved, a family created, a community enriched, a species enriched. I call on all party leaders to declare this matter a vote of conscience.