Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Women and the Minister for Government Services, Minister Gallagher. A letter from Services Australia, dated 2 July 2025, confirms that the stillborn baby payment of $4,326.57 is available in cases of intentional abortion where a pregnancy has reached 20 weeks or the child weighs 400 grams. While One Nation supports the stillborn baby payment for legitimate and heartbreaking cases, why is this payment being made to women who deliberately abort a baby?

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I know there are a number of steps taken before families affected by stillbirth are eligible for that payment. It includes a number of different pieces of documentation, but that payment, supported by that appropriate documentation, will be paid in those circumstances. It includes, in often quite traumatic circumstances, as you can imagine, evidence of the stillbirth from people who were attending the birth—that is required before the payment is made—associated with other documentation required by Services Australia to make that payment. We accept that, in the case of stillbirth, it is a very traumatic situation for anyone involved in that. I think even applying for that payment at times can be quite traumatic, so we've looked at ways to make sure that that is as seamless as possible. But, like every other payment that's required and provided by Services Australia, those payments are made in accordance with the law and in accordance with guidance and evidence that those payments are appropriate. It's that whether it's JobSeeker, it's a single-parenting payment or it's PPL. In the case of the loss of a baby through pregnancy loss, those payments will be made when that is supported by evidence that's required by Services Australia.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Hanson, first supplementary?

Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, you never answered the question, which was: why is it made to women who deliberately abort a baby? Minister, this policy risks creating a financial incentive for late-term abortion where Australian women can terminate a pregnancy up to the day before birth. They can terminate a pregnancy up to the day before birth, allowing women to receive a lump-sum payment and access to paid parental leave of up to $22,754. Why is the Albanese government funding the murder of healthy babies? Some are left to die in a kidney dish for up to five hours. (Time expired)

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The answer to that question is the same as to my earlier question. There are laws in this country around termination of pregnancy. They are laws that are regulated by the states and territories, and I support those laws. One of the reasons I got into politics was to ensure that women had the right to make choices about their own reproductive health. I accept that some people disagree with my views on that and with laws in states and territories that provide the regulatory arrangements around that.

In relation to the stillborn baby payment, as I said—and as it relates to other payments, including PPL—evidence is required, documentation is required, before those payments are made. In relation to the stillborn baby payment, that includes certification from a health professional attending the birth that the birth was of a stillborn child. That is the documentation that's required in order to receive that payment.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Hanson, second supplementary?

Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, when you talk about stillborn births, let me inform the people, the public of this nation, that they are actually injecting a needle into the heart of the baby before it's born. Therefore, it is born stillborn. Minister, will you and the Albanese government work with One Nation to close this appalling loophole and ensure these taxpayer funded payments are reserved for genuine cases of stillbirth, not for barbaric late-term abortions carried out by choice.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My answer to this is as it was to the earlier two questions. I have not seen any of and I have not had raised with me outside of this chamber right now the concerns that Senator Hanson raises with me. But, in order for a stillborn baby payment to be paid, what is required is a paper based form from the hospital containing a doctor's and midwife's declaration that is used as a verification of the stillbirth. That is what is required to get that payment.