16 Aug Lives of babies, human rights hang in the balance: Committee hearing into Katter Bill

Monday will see a crucial Committee hearing take place in the Queensland Parliament that will determine whether the human rights of babies born in Queensland will be enshrined in legislation.

Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) Leader, Robbie Katter, said his bill, which was being examined by the Health, Environment, and Agriculture Committee, sought to enshrine in legislation the Queensland Health policy regarding appropriate care for babies who were born alive as the result of an abortion.

“It’s beyond comprehension that we see members of the Committee from both sides of the house genuinely questioning the need for my Bill – a bill that makes certain that living and breathing babies are never disposed of in medical waste bins, or left to die on a table,” an emotional Mr Katter said.

Some of those appearing before the Committee will be medical professionals with lived experience of the trauma associated with babies being born alive following an abortion.

“I’m bracing myself already as I know the emotionally charged stories, but I implore the Committee members to listen to the witness testimony given on Monday, and truly consider if they believe it is right that Queensland’s laws don’t enshrine the human rights of all babies born in Queensland,” the KAP leader said.

“The members of the Committee have an obligation to the Queensland people and all babies born in this state to declare where they stand on this critical issue.

“Queenslanders need to know before the October election which parties support disposing of babies life rubbish, and which, like the KAP, are fully behind affording every Queenslander human rights and dignity,” Mr Katter said.

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