Channel Nine star Sylvia Jeffreys weighs in on abortion debate and issues powerful message that most Australians would agree with

Sylvia Jeffreys has spoken out on Australia’s abortion debate, sharing a powerful message as she questions why a divisive issue in American politics has crept into the country.

The Today host described it as a “personal and deeply emotional” issue as abortion rights in Queensland are spotlighted ahead of Saturday’s state election.

Abortion has become a hot topic, with Katter’s Australian Party vowing to introduce a bill to roll back abortion rights.

Liberal National leader David Crisafulli has insisted there will be no changes to abortion laws if he is elected prime minister over incumbent Labor president Steven Miles.

Crisafulli voted against the 2018 bill that removed abortion from the Criminal Code and allowed women to undergo the procedure only after 22 weeks of pregnancy.

“In Queensland, someone is putting forward the idea of ​​a bill (on abortion) that probably won’t even pass,” Jeffreys said on Thursday.

“Meanwhile, Queensland women are wondering what on earth is happening with this debate.

“For many people it feels like American politics are creeping into Australia.”

Abortion has long been an issue in American politics, including the current presidential campaign following the 2022 Supreme Court ruling that the legality of abortion should be determined on a state-by-state basis rather than being legal nationwide.

This led to almost half of all American states introducing a complete or partial abortion ban.

Federal National Party leader David Littleproud was questioned by Jeffreys about his position after it emerged that his coalition colleague Jacinta Nampijinpa Price opposed late-term abortions, calling them ‘infaticide’.

“I respect everyone’s individual right to have an opinion, and we must discuss that with respect,” Mr Littleproud said.

He said he had not spoken to Senator Nampijinpa Price about the issue, “but I respect her right to have an opinion.”

“That’s the beauty of living in a democracy: we should never silence anyone because of their beliefs,” Mr Littleproud said.

“I respect Jacinta and where her beliefs come from, and I don’t discourage anyone from having an opinion on any topic.”

Another guest, 2GB presenter Chris O’Keefe, described the Nationals leader’s response as a ‘joke’.

“I think it’s very hypocritical of David Littleproud, a man I have enormous respect for,” he said.

‘He encourages debate, but does not want to act on it.

“But will he encourage Lidia Thorpe to continue expressing her views, especially in the way she expressed them to the King? I’m sure he’d be furious, wouldn’t he?’

O’Keefe was referring to Senator Thorpe’s outburst against King Charles on Monday, where she said: “You have committed genocide against our people, give us our country back!”

“This is the joke of it all,” said an excited O’Keefe.

‘If it doesn’t suit your politics, you’re happy if you have a crack. But there is a senator from your party who is raising a highly emotional issue that no one in the country is asking for.

“She can’t do anything about it in Canberra, and she’s doing it for cheap politics. And you look too spineless to call her out.”

Mr Littleproud said Senator Nampijinpa Price did not fuel the issue but had simply answered a question on the matter.

“Senator Nampijinpa Price did not, in fact, ask for this to become a national debate,” he said.

‘Jacinta made it clear to me, even though I have not spoken to her, that she did not intend for this to become a national issue.

‘She was asked on a forum about her personal beliefs, and she did not do so with malicious intent. So let’s get the facts straight.’

O’Keefe asked the Nationals leader if he considered the use of the word “infaticide” to be inflammatory.

‘She was asked about her personal beliefs, not the position of the National or Liberal Party. It was her belief,” Mr Littleproud said.

“But you’re the leader of the Nationals. What is your belief?’ O’Keefe asked.

Mr Littleproud said: ‘My beliefs are very personal’

‘I believe in a woman’s right to choose, but I am also fortunate that my older brother is adopted.

“My parents didn’t think they could have children, and if his biological parents hadn’t had him, I wouldn’t have an older brother. There would be three children today without a father, who wouldn’t even exist.’

He said society should do more to alleviate the need for abortion.

“Having experienced the trauma of IVF myself and understanding how difficult adoption is… we need to encourage people to go for full term because there are many loving families who cannot have children,” Mr Littleproud said.

“As a society, we must do everything we can to encourage people to carry their children to term and give them to loving families.”