In the lead-up to the federal election, many expected abortion to erupt as a flashpoint—especially after the fierce state-level campaign we seen in Queensland. But that confrontation never came. Instead, what we witnessed was not a debate, but a deliberate silencing.
The Quiet Strategy: What No One Wanted To Talk About
Queensland Labor, used abortion as a political weapon against their opponents, and their opponents reacted poorly. However, at a Federal level, Labor’s scare tactics were shelved. This wasn’t a sudden change of heart—it was a calculated shift in political strategy. The aim wasn’t to resolve the debate but to avoid it altogether. Perhaps to save face with the Christian vote?
Tragically, the Coalition, under Peter Dutton’s leadership, moved quickly to suppress internal dissent. Pro-life voices like Senator Matt Canavan and Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price were effectively gagged. Dutton publicly declared himself pro-choice and insisted that abortion was a matter for the states. That message became the Coalition’s shield: “This is a state issue.” It’s a line that sounds neat and tidy but doesn’t hold up under scrutiny.
While abortion laws are indeed legislated by the states, the federal government plays a significant role:
– Medicare covers abortion procedures.
– Pharmaceutical regulation determines access to abortion drugs like RU486.
– Foreign aid supports organisations like MSI (Marie Stopes International), which promote abortion globally using Australian taxpayer dollars.
To pretend the federal government has no say is not just misleading—it’s dangerous. It conceals the breadth of national influence on life-and-death matters. We recognised this and took action.
Why Federal Politics Still Matters In The Abortion Debate
We asked every federal candidate two simple, morally urgent questions: 1. Do you support limits on late-term abortion? 2. Do you support protections for babies born alive after a failed abortion?
Only a couple of candidates— from the Coalition—gave clear, life-affirming answers. Most pointed us to a generic party statement:
“The Coalition supports the current arrangements and is not proposing any changes on this issue. The delivery of specific pregnancy termination services is a state and territory responsibility and the Australian Government has no constitutional powers in this area…”
That’s not a response. That’s an evasion.
A Light In The Upper House
With so many doors closed at the lower house level, our campaign focused on where it could truly count: the Senate. We were truly delighted that Senator Malcolm Roberts was re-elected. Senator Roberts has been a courageous and consistent pro-life voice. Malcolm spoke at our March for Life but has already demonstrated a fearless commitment to defending the unborn in Parliament.
By God’s grace, he was re-elected.
The Takeaway: Silence is Not Neutral
Let’s be clear: the federal election campaign did not mark the end of the abortion debate. It marked a new phase—one where powerful voices try to keep the truth quiet. But silence is not neutral. It is a strategy. And one we must never accept.
When our leaders refuse to speak up for the most vulnerable, it falls to us to speak louder. The future of our nation—its moral direction—depends on whether we’re willing to confront what others try to conceal.
Will we continue to look away, or will we confront the reality that children are being left to die—alive, abandoned—while Parliamentarians call it someone else’s problem?
History has shown again and again: injustice thrives in silence. But when truth is spoken— clearly and courageously—it has the power to change hearts, shift policies, and save lives.
The unborn can’t speak for themselves. But we can. And we must.
