The Liberal party and Abortion
The National Observer takes a look at the Liberal party's betrayal of Australian pro-life conservatives. [3 Minute Read]
Recently America’s Supreme court, in a historic decision, overturned America’s ‘right’ to abortion, immediately making the brutal practice illegal in roughly half of America’s 50 states.
In light of this momentous victory, fought and won by generations of dedicated Christians and Conservatives across America, one could be forgiven for thinking that Australia’s supposedly conservative Liberal party would have seized this opportunity to shine a light on Australia’s own radically left wing pro-abortion legislation which now stands in every state of the commonwealth.
As far as political issues go, abortion should be a no-brainer for any Australian conservative. Ending an Australian’s life while in the womb is inexcusable and a clear rejection of our God’s commandments. This being the case, where Liberal party members stand regarding this issue serves as a great test of conviction.
Today Australia’s National Observer will show you 3 emblematic examples of the Liberal party’s failing this test.
Victoria
Over the course of the last few decades, Victorian Labor members have unapologetically lurched further and further leftward with no sign of stopping. The Victorian Liberal parties answer to this? Not to differentiate themselves and put forth a genuine alternative - but to kneecap the most principled members of their party. Case in point, conservative legend - Bernie Finn.
Bernie Finn, a loyal Liberal party member of 41 years was recently expelled by his colleagues from the party for expressing his pro-life views. Much like many Australian conservatives, Bernie Finn celebrated the overturning of America’s federal abortion laws - pro-life views being a strongly held belief of the MP who once stated that he is ‘praying’ Australia follows the US on the matter. This is a perfectly ordinary Christian belief, one that Victorian Party leader Matthew Guy made clear no longer has a place in the Victorian Liberal Party, which is trying its utmost to be a “sensible, alternative government”. Seemingly he does not see the irony of expelling a party member for holding a ‘sensible’, ‘alternative’ opinion.
The Liberal Party has not held government in Victoria in decades, yet there seems to be no pause, no introspection on their behalf.
I address this to Matthew Guy: perhaps a change of tact is necessary, why not work to build a conservative base in Victoria rather than trying to steal Labor’s through imitation. It is the opinion of the National Observer that a proactive conservative message would help the Victorian Liberal party,
throwing Bernie Finn out will not.
NSW
The situation worsens when looking to NSW’s recent history of Liberal leadership.
Gladys Berijiklian is a name that to an Australian conservative brings to mind everything wrong with the Liberal party. While premier of NSW, Berijiklian, despite campaigning as friendly with Christians, supported abortion-to-birth legislation. The premier heralded by many as a feminist icon later stepped down from the office when ICAC began an investigation into her suspect relationship with a former Liberal leader who pled guilty to corruption charges.
All the while media ran cover for her every decision, even giving her the title of ‘the woman who saved Australia’ from the covid pandemic. In retrospect we know that Gladys Berijiklian saved Australia in the same way she stood up for conservative values. She didn’t.
That the Liberal leader of Australia’s largest state voted in favour of the most radical abortion law in this country, should be cause for concern for every Liberal member.
South Australia
Finally, let’s look to South Australia where unfortunately the pattern of Liberal party disdain for right wing, Christian values continues.
In South Australia, the Labor party is more conservative than the Liberal party. I did not mistype, you did not misread -
South Australia’s Labor party is more socially conservative than its Liberal party.
Just two years ago in 2020 Stephen Marshall, at the time the Liberal Premier of the state, supported a bill put forth by Liberal deputy premier Vicki Chapman legalising abortion until birth. Surprisingly, Peter Malinauskas, self-described social conservative and at the time opposition leader of the Labor party, voted against the bill.
The SA Liberal party would do well to notice the election of South Australia’s first ever One Nation candidate. This should be a clear indication to the SA Liberal party that a rightward shift, not only on the topic of abortion but on a whole host of conservative issues would only serve to grow the party’s support.
When voters go to the polls and place the number 1 next to their local Liberal candidate’s name, in their mind, they are voting for the sensible right wing party the Liberals like to advertise themselves to be, if you are reading this article, you most likely know this is an illusion.
In a story often told, faced with an opportunity to further conservative interests, the Liberal party will ignore, deflect or as is the case far too often, oppose social conservatism - the abortion issue being only one example of this phenomenon. It is time for us, the real Australian conservatives to retake the Liberal Party.