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Atrocity of babies left to die continues in WA

Christian advocacy group FamilyVoice Australia is calling for an inquiry as news breaks that seven children were left to die after an abortion from 2015 to 2016.

The shocking revelation of the deaths arose on June 15 when the new WA Health Minister Roger Cook responded to a question on notice from Liberal MLC Nick Goiran.

“WA parliamentary leaders and the Health Department are taking no action, even though the neglect of any human who is born alive is a crime under the WA Criminal Code,” said FamilyVoice WA Director Darryl Budge, referring to section 290.

“A total of 27 cases of babies surviving an abortion and being left to die have been reported between July 1999 and December 2016, an increase of seven children over the 2014 figure given by the Hon. Kim Hames,” Mr Budge said.

“Every one of these babies that was expected to die defied all odds and survived premature deliveries, yet they were left to die.

“The numbers mean the trend of two baby deaths per year to 2014 is now as high as four babies per year being left alone to die a slow and painful death after surviving an abortion.

“Of those 27 babies, 21 were at 20 weeks gestation or later.  According to Health Department data, there is no record of medical intervention or resuscitation being undertaken in any of the 27 cases.”

FamilyVoice is campaigning for a parliamentary inquiry to expose the true nature of the situation.

“We hope an inquiry will be a catalyst for better reforms and tightening of government policy,” Mr Budge said.

“The inquiry should also investigate disability discrimination, so that justification of the termination of unborn babies on the basis of their possessing a non-lethal condition such as Down Syndrome and Spina Bifida does not occur,” Mr Budge said.

Department of Health statistics obtained by the Hon. Nick Goiran revealed that in 2016, there were:

  • 7839 induced abortions
  • 664 induced abortions over 12 weeks gestation
  • 631 induced abortions for women under the age of 20
  • 81 approvals given by the Ministerial Panel for abortions at 20 weeks gestation or later
  • 78 induced abortions at 20 weeks gestation or later