Ralph Babet (Victoria, United Australia Party) Share this | Hansard source

There are those in this place who say they are all about democracy and human rights, yet they continually undermine democracy and show, in my opinion, disdain for human rights. The move tomorrow to have the Human Rights (Children Born Alive Protection) Bill 2022, co-sponsored by myself, Senator Canavan and Senator Antic, removed from the Notice Paper is a case in point.

All this bill would have done is ensure that a baby born alive following a botched abortion is provided medical care. What type of care? Perhaps it's a warm blanket or perhaps it's pain relief. It's up for debate. At least, it would have been up to for debate. Can you imagine elected representatives who will not tolerate even a discussion on the rights of babies born alive after a botched late-term abortion? It blows my mind that any person, let alone an elected senator, would cancel or perhaps oppose a bill that guarantees a provision of medical care or perhaps comfort to a living, breathing baby.

There are many things that happen in this chamber that I disagree with, and there are things that happen that I just think are plain wrong. But I would never try to silence anyone's opportunity to have a debate. The move to shut down the discussion on the welfare of babies is just unconscionable. There are those in this place, like I said before, whose love of democracy, in my opinion, is self-serving and whose advocacy of human rights is entirely selective. Shame on those who don't support the born alive bill and who seek to silence discussion on the issue. What you have done is really beyond politicking. May God forgive you.