Matt O'Sullivan (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise today to speak on this very important matter, and I commend Senator Ralph Babet for bringing this before the Senate today. This ought to be a straightforward matter. It's not intended to create a barrier to abortion; rather it's focusing on the medical care that should be provided to a baby who is born alive. Though rare, it's not impossible for a child to survive an abortion. The numbers may seem small, but each case represents a vulnerable human life that deserves our compassion and care.

Unfortunately, not even in my home state of Western Australia are we immune to this situation. It was reported that between 1999 and 2016 there were at least 27 infants born alive in Western Australia after failed abortion procedures. Some of these babies were surviving anywhere from nine minutes to over two hours according to the Western Australian health minister. Twenty-seven children—that's equivalent to a full classroom of students. Fifteen of these births were at the gestational age between 20 and 25 weeks, six were at 26 weeks or later and one was at 34 weeks. Due to the incredible advancement in medical technology, it's entirely possible for a premature baby, at 21 weeks, to survive and go on to live a viable and healthy life. By that measure, at least 22 of the 27 babies born alive in WA could have been supported by healthcare professionals.

Last year, the Abortion Legislation Reform Bill 2023 was passed in Western Australia. My WA colleague the Hon. Nick Goiran MLC moved an amendment to make clear that babies born alive after an abortion should be entitled to the same standard of care as any other Western Australian baby. Now even if it was possible for a baby to survive, we should provide them with comfort and care to pass away with dignity, instead of leaving them to slowly die on a cold metal kidney dish. In the same way that we care for the terminally ill and the bedridden, we have an obligation to care for the child who has survived an abortion regardless of our views on their chances of survival.

Unfortunately, many in this place will turn a blind eye to this situation. It's not our job in this place to create laws for only some Australians. We have to ensure that our most vulnerable are protected. This week we've heard from senators on both sides of the aisle advocating for the protection of every Australian, including funding certain industries and services like child care, aged care and, indeed, the NDIS. One senator yesterday stated that we should understand the value of life at every stage. Well, I could not agree more. If life at every stage matters then this should be a no-brainer. If a child survives an attempted abortion and is born alive then, like every Australian, that child deserves the medical treatment that is afforded to everybody else. We cannot pick and choose when this applies and who it applies to, because every life is worth protecting.