Rise in Queensland babies surviving late-term abortions and being left to die, figures show

By Josh Bavas

Posted about an hour ago


Twenty-seven babies survived late-term abortions in Queensland hospitals last year but were not rendered care and allowed to die, figures released by Health Minister Cameron Dick have shown.

The babies were of five months gestation or more.

The information was released by Mr Dick this week after he was asked a Question on Notice by Member for Cleveland Dr Mark Robinson in May.

Mr Dick also provided the number of 'live birth' abortions for the last 10 years, which shows a steady increase of those that survive.


Calendar year

Terminations with live birth outcome


2005 8
2006 16
2007 20
2008 15
2009 13
2010 17
2011 20
2012 20
2013 23
2014 25
2015 27
Total 204


Queensland Health confirmed that in such cases, care is not rendered to the baby after a decision to terminate is made and it is left to perish in the clinic.

But the release also shows the actual number could be a lot higher.

"I am advised these numbers represent less than 0.05 per cent of the total number of live births each year (including all hospitals in Queensland, both public and private hospitals combined)," Mr Dick said.

Mr Dick said such procedures were done in accordance to the Queensland Maternity and Neonatal Clinical Guideline: Therapeutic termination of pregnancy.

"There are almost always severe circumstances leading to a small number of women who choose to terminate a pregnancy after 20 weeks' gestation," he said.

"The number of termination procedures where babies are born with signs of life at this stage is a very small proportion of the total live births each year in Queensland."

Pro-life group calls for inquiry

Teresa Martin from Cherish Life Queensland said the revelation was shocking and called for an inquiry into the abortion industry in Queensland.

"There is also grave concern about the medical staff who have had to be part of this procedure, perhaps even against their own consciences," she said.

Last month, Independent Queensland MP Rob Pyne put forward a private members' bill to completely legalise abortion in Queensland.

Abortion has been prohibited since 1899, but permissible if there is serious danger to the mother's life or her physical or mental health.

Queensland senator Larissa Waters, who has been campaigning for abortion to be removed from the criminal code, says decriminalising abortion would lead to less late-term terminations.