BRISBANE, Australia—Pro-life advocates rallied in front of Queensland Parliament on Feb. 9 in response to the leaked image of an aborted 16-week-old foetus.
The image, passed to prominent anti-abortion campaigner Joanna Howe by a health worker, has been the latest focal point of her efforts.
Hundreds of supporters joined the call, flying white balloons and signs to stand in solidarity with “baby Samuel,” the named given by Howe.
“We are here today because of the courage of one woman, who looked at Samuel struggling to breathe, sucking his thumb, fighting for his life for 30 minutes,” Howe told the crowd.
“This is wrong that he’s alone in a hospital room. This is wrong that his parents are not holding him. This is wrong that he was killed in the first place,” the University of Adelaide law professor said.
“Samuel is us. He’s Australian. He’s a little baby who should be here with us today,” Howe added. “From the moment of conception, Samuel was human, and he deserved to live.”
Baby Samuel’s Story
“Baby Samuel’s” story began circulating online after the photo leak from Townsville University Hospital—likely breaching hospital confidentiality—showing a supposed aborted foetus in the Butterfly Room of the institution.
The foetus body is curled with its hand close to its mouth.
Howe alleges Samuel survived his induced abortion at 16 weeks of gestation, but was left alone and exposed to die.
In a separate post on her Instagram, Howe referenced testimony by Dr. Elisha Broom, acting director of obstetrics at Logan Hospital.
“We should be clear that babies born alive at these gestations—say, 16 to 22 weeks—resulting from an abortion are not a failed abortion,” Dr. Broom told the Queensland Parliamentary Inquiry into Live Births in 2024.
“It is not an unintended, unexpected consequence. We know that these babies will be born alive but they are previable. This is an existing practice.”
The Epoch Times contacted Townsville University Hospital and Queensland health minister for comment. The Epoch Times has yet to confirm the veracity of the photo.
Vow to Overturn Gag Order
Katter’s Australian Party state MP Robbie Katter also attended and pledged to try repeal a parliamentary “gag order” imposed by Queensland LNP Premier David Crisafulli.
In the lead-up to the October 2024 campaign, Katter suggested repealing the Termination of Pregnancy Act 2018, which decriminalised and increased access to abortion.
His promise put pressure on the LNP and led to media speculation of changes. This in turn, saw Labor narrow its campaigning on abortion, which likely cost the LNP votes from female and moderate voters who equate legal abortion procedures to women’s rights.
To dull the abortion debate, Premier Crisafulli moved a motion in parliament to ban debate on abortion laws during the next term (4 years).
It states that “not withstanding anything in standing or sessional orders, this house orders that: no bill or amendment seeking to amend the Termination of Pregnancy Act 2018 is allowed to be introduced.
“No motion or amendment seeking to have this house express its views on the Termination of Pregnancy Act 2018 is allowed to be moved.”
On Feb. 10, Mackay-based LNP member Nigel Dalton crossed the floor to support Katter.
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