The federal Coalition is grappling with an unwanted outbreak of internal dissent over abortion rights, with leader Peter Dutton emphatically ruling out any changes to party policy and castigating MPs for inflaming the sensitive debate.
In a stern warning at the Coalition’s weekly party room meeting, Mr Dutton reportedly told his colleagues that loose comments on abortion had cost the Liberal National Party precious votes at the recent Queensland state election. With a federal poll looming by May next year, he demanded greater “discipline” from his team on the explosive topic.
Closed Door Crackdown
According to Coalition insiders, the opposition leader used the private gathering to “very firmly” lay down the law on the party’s stance, without naming specific transgressors. “It is not a federal issue,” one MP paraphrased Mr Dutton as saying, stressing that “discipline is extremely important” even for those with passionate personal views.
The blunt directive was widely seen as a thinly veiled rebuke of outspoken Northern Territory Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price. Two weeks ago, the Country Liberal Party member ignited controversy by publicly denouncing abortions after the first trimester as akin to “infanticide.”
To characterize abortions past 12 weeks as ‘later-term’ procedures is medically inaccurate. Such rhetoric only fuels confusion and judgment around what are often deeply complex, personal circumstances.
– Statement from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
Colleagues Quick to Contradict
Senator Price’s comments, made without the leadership’s blessing, prompted a near-instant chorus of rebuttals from senior moderate Coalition figures:
- Deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley flatly rejected any move to “reopen debate” at the federal level.
- Opposition finance spokesperson Jane Hume echoed there was “no proposed change” to the party’s platform.
- Nationals Senate leader Bridget McKenzie agreed it was a matter for the states.
Even Queensland Senator Matt Canavan, a vocal proponent of winding back abortion access, conceded that reviving the radioactive issue on the cusp of a national campaign would be politically unwise.
Queensland Quagmire a Cautionary Tale
The Coalition’s hasty damage control reflects the disastrous impact abortion had in the dying days of the Queensland state election last month. A surprise pledge by crossbencher Robbie Katter to tighten termination laws saw then-LNP leader David Crisafulli relentlessly dogged over his own position as Labor seized on the confusion.
After several torturous press conferences, Mr Crisafulli ultimately ruled out entertaining any changes, but many observers believe the distraction cruelled his momentum in the pivotal final week. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk romped to victory on October 31.
Eyes on the Sunshine State Prize
For Peter Dutton, avoiding a repeat of that debacle is imperative. Headquartered in Queensland himself, the opposition leader knows that big gains in the state are crucial to hauling the Coalition back into government.
The last thing we need is self-inflicted wounds and friendly fire. Anything that plays into Labor’s hands and lets them off the hook is just political malpractice.
– Coalition strategist, speaking on condition of anonymity
Hence Mr Dutton’s swift, unambiguous shutdown this week of any speculation his party could shift rightward on reproductive rights. His calculation is clearly that the benefits of appeasing conservative activists are vastly outweighed by the risks of driving away moderate swing voters — especially suburban women — wary of a lurch backward.
With many months of intense campaigning ahead, the Coalition leader is determined to quarantine the election battle to his preferred turf of economic management, cost of living, and national security. The last thing he wants or needs is for rogue MPs to let Labor reframe the contest as a referendum on social ideology.
The looming question now is whether Mr Dutton’s edict will be enough to cork the abortion genie his troops have ill-advisedly unleashed. With passions running deep on both sides, the potential for damaging leaks and distracting disunity remains very real.
But if the opposition can maintain the discipline demanded by their leader, they may yet prevent an outbreak of myopia from derailing their mission to recapture the electoral center. Mr Dutton is banking on it.
