A Sydney couple who terminated a pregnancy after discovering their daughter had a genetic syndrome with a near-zero chance of survival has spoken out against One Nation's anti-abortion stance, defending parents' right to choose. The couple, who wish to remain anonymous, said their daughter was 'real' and that they 'dreamed of meeting her', but they chose to end the pregnancy so she 'never had to suffer'.
The couple described the moment they learned something was wrong during an ultrasound, when the technician left the room 'just to check some numbers'. After several sleepless nights, they received a diagnosis: their daughter had a genetic syndrome caused by a random error during cell division, giving her a chance of living until birth of close to 1%. Even if she were born, she would require lifelong medical care the couple could not afford.
A 'horrendous' choice and a 'one-in-a-thousand fluke'
The couple called the choice presented to them 'horrendous', saying they moved through their days in a 'fog of confusion and fear'. After fighting to become pregnant, they felt struck by a 'one-in-a-thousand fluke of nature'. A week after the diagnosis, they terminated the pregnancy.
They argue that One Nation's policies, and those of anti-abortion activists, would strip parents of control over their own bodies. They reference the US, where such activists are 'ascendant', and note that families there face real situations of having to outrun time limits or jump states to regain control.
One Nation's 'extreme' stance and NSW legislation
The couple criticise Barnaby Joyce and Pauline Hanson for pretending their stances are 'conciliatory, reasonable, measured'. They note that their own termination, for medical reasons before 20 weeks, would not have been affected by One Nation's official policy. However, they point to comments by NSW leader Mike Newman, who said he 'made a mistake' when he told a rally he wanted abortions to 'stop', and the presence of Malcolm Roberts at a gathering where a preacher called women who had terminations 'murderers'.
The couple also mention legislation introduced by Libertarian John Ruddick in the NSW upper house to criminalise sex-selective abortions, which Newman said he would support. The bill was voted down in the Legislative Council on Wednesday.
'Pro-life' advocates are 'anything but'
The couple argue that so-called 'pro-life' advocates are 'anything but', questioning whether they will offer a helping hand to those born in circumstances incompatible with a good life. They say no parents should have to make such a decision, but nor should their ability to choose be stripped from them.
They reject the perception that those who choose termination are 'monsters' or 'unfeeling robots'. 'Our daughter was real,' they wrote. 'We knew she was there; we saw her moving in the ultrasounds; we dreamed of meeting her.' They conclude that the decision to terminate belongs to those 'closest to the pain', not to Hanson, Joyce, Roberts, Newman, or any anti-abortion activist.
