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Saving women? Spare me. This is hatred of women at its heart

22 0
22.06.2026

The far right often cloaks itself as a movement to save women and girls, while doing the exact opposite. So, it's no surprise that as the far right seeks to stoke hatred against immigrants and the queer community, Australia is also experiencing co-ordinated efforts across three states to wind back women's access to abortion.

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The far right is a place of differing grievances and conspiracies, including neo-Nazis and incels but there's plenty of evidence to suggest a hatred of women sits at the centre of their toxic overlapping interests. "Misogyny isn't just a side issue: it connects everyday violence with radicalisation."

Just like whipping up hatred against immigrants, efforts to restrict abortion are designed to be a political lightning rod, driving outrage and engagement amongst its rabid supporters.

One Nation's policy seeks to radically restrict abortion, with one of its senators supporting a total ban. The tactics from One Nation and others from the far right are imported straight from MAGA in the United States.

We can see what this leads to. When abortion is banned or severely restricted, women die. When politicians insert themselves between the decision of a woman and her doctor, when doctors fear prosecution for providing basic healthcare, women die, more women experience severe medical complications and many women have their future fertility compromised by not being able to access the care they need when they need it.

Abortion is legal in all Australian states and territories. Abortion is supported by a clear majority of Australians, with just 8 per cent of Australians opposed to abortion full-stop.

In South Australia, a bill to further restrict abortion after 25 weeks passed the upper house, but failed in the lower house despite both the Premier and Opposition Leader supporting it. In Queensland, the Katter Party attempted to use a disallowance motion to force a debate after promising to ban abortion as part of his election platform. And in NSW, there's a bill to ban sex-selective abortions, despite zero........

© Canberra Times