One Nation figure Barnaby Joyce joined anti-abortion campaigners to urge Nationals MPs to support measures criminalising certain abortions before a close vote in New South Wales. Activists threatened to back One Nation candidates against major parties if new restrictions on pregnancy terminations were not adopted, citing recent polling gains. Joyce spoke at a rally outside NSW parliament on Tuesday evening, introduced amid chants calling on the Nationals to act. He urged supporters to maintain pressure on behalf of those unable to advocate for themselves, describing them as people rather than foetuses. Joyce acknowledged the political risks but insisted the stance was correct, encouraging the crowd to campaign against sitting politicians. Organiser Dr Joanna Howe told attendees that four Nationals members in the upper house were blocking passage of the bill, which would still require lower house approval. She described the legislation as the first pro-abortion restriction bill to advance through any Australian parliament and warned that failure to support it could allow One Nation to win Nationals seats. The bill, introduced by Libertarian upper house member John Ruddick, targets only sex-selective abortions. Howe said further bills would follow, including one on late-term procedures, and announced plans for campaigns in Nationals electorates before the 2027 state election. A counter-protest of around 150 people gathered nearby. The legislation will be debated in the upper house on Wednesday and voted on in coming days. No party holds a majority in either chamber, and conscience votes have been granted to Labor, Liberal and National MPs.
