The Sydney Morning Herald logo

Abortion

Advertisement
Margaret Tighe in 2017.

She was the most divisive figure in Australia’s anti-abortion battles. But even her adversaries acknowledged her stamina

Margaret Tighe’s lifelong fight against abortion, euthanasia and stem cell research reshaped state and federal elections, hardened political debate and enraged her opponents.

  • Rob Harris

Latest

Mackay MP Nigel Dalton.

Crisafulli faces questions about rebel MP’s bid to put abortion back on agenda

The premier on Sunday said he had spoken to Mackay MP Nigel Dalton, and confirmed he was expected to remain a member of the LNP. 

  • Cloe Read
Mackay MP Nigel Dalton.

‘This is my time to redeem myself’: Rebel Liberal-National MP hopes to reignite abortion debate

The Mackay MP said he was motivated to break party ranks because he was uncomfortable to have initially supported the gag in 2024.

  • James Hall
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli

Liberal-National MP rebels against Crisafulli on abortion

The MP crossed the floor during a vote critical to the Queensland government’s handling of abortion debate.

  • James Hall
Queensland Health Minister Tim Nicholls.

Minister denies forcing abortion advocate to quit hospital board role

Tim Nicholls has responded to accusations that he gave Daile Kelleher an ultimatum because he lacked the legal power to sack her.

  • Matt Dennien
Former Gold Coast Health and Hospital Service board member Daile Kelleher and Health Minister Tim Nicholls.

Minister pushed one-time rival from hospital role, then changed board laws

New laws allow cabinet to dismiss board members without reason, but before they even came in, Queensland’s health minister pushed an abortion advocate to quit her board role.

  • Matt Dennien
Advertisement
Three women bear witness in The Testaments

Trump’s war on women enters sinister new phase

“Bounty hunter” laws for doctors who prescribe abortion pills, bans on terminations for child rape victims – what else can the US do to its women?

  • Liz Gooch
Baby Priya’s mother holds a picture of her daughter

Sensitive exposé of insensitive behaviour

Priya’s Bill, Sussan Ley’s advisers and Tony Abbott’s (arguable) achievements – your letters this week.

Opposition leader Sussan Ley.

Ley condemns Coalition colleagues’ abortion comments as ‘insensitive’

Barnaby Joyce – who, along with Andrew Hastie, aired the issue during debate about Priya’s Bill last week – accused Ley of being disingenuous and misrepresenting their concerns.

  • Natassia Chrysanthos and Brittany Busch

Baby Priya brought compassion to the parliament. Then four men hijacked the debate

A rare display of grace and bipartisanship occurred in the House of Representatives this week. But four conservative male MPs used the opportunity to reignite the abortion wars.

  • Jacqueline Maley