Australia: Anti-abortion bill blocked in South Australia; Qantas delays nonstop Sydney-London flights again
South Australia's lower house blocked a historic bill to recriminalise abortion, while Qantas has postponed its nonstop Sydney-London flights to October 2027.
Anti-abortion bill blocked in South Australia
South Australia's lower house has rejected a bill that would have been the first in the nation's history to recriminalise abortion. The upper house passed it by one vote, thanks to the three newly elected One Nation MLCs. Both Premier Peter Malinauskas and opposition leader Ashton Hurn supported the bill, but it failed in the lower house.
The bill was introduced by Sarah Game, who was elected as a One Nation MP but later formed her own party Fair Go and then joined Family First. It was created with anti-abortion activist Joanna Howe, who has been banned from the SA parliament for alleged bullying during debate on previous similar bills. Initially, the bill banned all abortions from 25 weeks with no exception for maternal health unless death was likely, and a narrow exception for fetal anomalies. An amendment added exceptions for severe fetal abnormalities, but the bill still failed.
All major medical organisations, including the Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG), the Australian Medical Association, and the College of Midwives, opposed the bill. More than 90% of abortions occur in the first trimester. SA Health data showed that in 2023, fewer than 1% (47) of abortions occurred after 23 weeks, with 37 for maternal health and 10 for fetal anomalies. In the first 18 months after the legislation was implemented, there were fewer than five terminations after 27 weeks and none after 29 weeks.
Nonstop Sydney-London flights delayed again
Qantas has set a new launch date for its nonstop Sydney-London service: October 2027. The Project Sunrise flights, using specially manufactured A350 aircraft, will cut four hours off travel time. Qantas released new photos of the first of 12 planes ordered, which have expanded fuel capacity.
Delivery of the planes has been repeatedly delayed. The project was paused in 2020 due to COVID-19. In 2021, then-CEO Alan Joyce anticipated a 2024 start. In November last year, Qantas said commercial services would begin in the first half of 2027. The airline now says tickets will go on sale in February 2027. The next Project Sunrise route will be Sydney-New York, with launch timing to be announced next year.
Barnaby Joyce defends hardline immigration policy
One Nation's treasury spokesperson Barnaby Joyce defended the party’s hardline immigration stance after Pauline Hanson's National Press Club address. In an interview with ABC, he backed a monocultural Australia, arguing immigration must be tightly restricted to preserve "Australian culture." When told that 51% of Australian residents are overseas-born or have an overseas-born parent, Joyce denied the party was alienating more than half the country, saying Australia must have the capacity to absorb people to ensure harmony and unity, otherwise "Balkanisation" would occur.
Joyce also criticised recent childcare wage increases and worker-friendly reforms, prioritising small business owners. He said One Nation's policies would be rolled out closer to the election as the party shifts from a protest group to a party of government.
