The Fair Work Amendment (Baby Priya’s) Bill 2025 — known as Priya’s Law — was meant to fix an injustice and comfort grieving parents.

Named after baby Priya, who tragically passed away at just 42 days old, the bill rightly seeks to ensure parents who lose a child through stillbirth or early infant death are not denied paid parental leave.

But beneath this compassion lies a disturbing omission. As drafted, Priya’s Law fails to define “stillbirth”, creating the possibility that taxpayer-funded or employer-funded parental leave payments — up to $22,754 — could go to parents who intentionally abort their babies late in pregnancy.

Family First supports the heart behind Priya’s Law — but we cannot support any law that blurs the moral line between the natural tragedy of stillbirth and the deliberate taking of an unborn child’s life.

We commend the courage of four Coalition MPs — Barnaby Joyce, Andrew Hastie, Tony Pasin and Henry Pike — who stood in the federal parliament this week to demand clarity.

Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce said in his speech:

“A number of us feel we do not have a clear answer on this, so, unfortunately — I hate to bring it up — there remains the issue of late-term abortion. We have a right to know if it includes that.”

Liberal MP Andrew Hastie, who praised the “noble” intent of the bill, nevertheless warned:

“I do have a question about the unintended consequences of this bill, and it applies to late-term abortions. It’s no secret that I am opposed to late-term abortions.”

Their colleague Tony Pasin made the moral logic plain:

“It shouldn’t be available to people who don’t wish to become parents… I think it’s clear in the title paid parental leave that it should be available to parents — to people who had wished to become parents but, for the grace of God, have not become parents through an incident or outcome.”

And Henry Pike echoed their concern, insisting that Australians deserve a law “that clearly distinguishes between parents who lose a child and those who end a child’s life through abortion.”

In an era when even raising questions about abortion invites ridicule from the media and activists, these MPs showed integrity and courage. They spoke for the voiceless, and for the thousands of Australians who believe compassion must never be confused with complicity in death.

Family First also recognises the tireless advocacy of Dr Joanna Howe, who has led the public campaign to expose this flaw in Priya’s Law and to press for amendments ensuring paid parental leave applies only to natural stillbirths or infant deaths. Without her clarity and persistence, this disturbing provision might never have come to light.

Labor’s refusal to define “stillbirth” in this bill is not compassion — it is moral evasion. Australians overwhelmingly support parental leave for grieving parents who lose a child through tragedy, but not for those who choose to end their child’s life.

This law should honour life — not reward abortion.

Family First calls on Senators to amend Priya’s Law to remove any possibility of payments being made for abortion. If the government refuses, it will betray both the memory of baby Priya and the conscience of the nation.

It’s time to stand with conscience. Contact your state’s Senators today and urge them to fix Priya’s Law so it protects grieving parents — not the abortion industry.