Peter Dutton Urges Coalition Discipline on Abortion Debate

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has urged Coalition MPs to avoid discussions on abortion laws, citing the detrimental impact such debates had on the Liberal National Party's performance in the recent Queensland election. He emphasized there would be no changes to abortion policy if he wins the federal election, instructing party members to maintain discipline and focus on federal issues rather than state-level debates. Dutton's remarks follow criticisms of the controversial Human Rights (Children Born Alive Protection) Bill, which some Coalition senators support, described by Minister for Women Katy Gallagher as 'dangerous' and a threat to women’s rights. Dutton's stance is a strategic move to prevent Labor from leveraging the abortion issue against the Coalition in key metropolitan seats. The conversation around later-term abortion was reignited by Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, whose views were not aligned with the Coalition leadership. Dutton's insistence on avoiding the topic is seen as an effort to bolster party unity and electoral prospects ahead of the upcoming federal election.