NSW Opposition Leader Mark Speakman has accused anti-abortion advocate Joanna Howe of “brazen bullying” following her threats against him should he support a proposed abortion access bill in parliament. This legislation aims to permit medical practitioners and certified midwives to provide abortion medication for pregnancies up to nine weeks.
The bill, introduced by Greens MP Amanda Cohn, allows conscience votes for both Labor and Coalition members. Speakman expressed his shock regarding an email Howe sent, in which she outlined a plan to launch a campaign against his leadership if he backs the bill. She declared that her opposition would focus on five marginal seats held by Labor in socially conservative areas.
Defending his stance, Speakman stated he would not succumb to what he called “brazen bullying” and reaffirmed his support for the bill, emphasising his intention to vote according to his conscience, addressing complex ethical and medical concerns. He argued that the proposed change would likely not significantly alter the abortion rates in NSW, but could lead to better health outcomes for women seeking the procedure.
Howe, a law professor renowned for her anti-abortion stance, has travelled from South Australia to NSW to rally against the bill alongside former Prime Minister Tony Abbott. In a recent social media post, she asserted that Speakman was unable to withstand the democratic process, claiming their efforts to challenge him were not bullying but necessary for political accountability.
Originally, the abortion access bill comprised several provisions, including the ability for medical professionals to administer abortion medications and requirements for referral by conscientious objectors. However, most of these elements, except for the provision allowing practitioners and some midwives to offer the medication, have been removed, resulting in a significantly amended bill poised for approval this week.