A shadowy overseas group is trying to influence Australian abortion policy. Who are CitizenGo and what do they want?

CitizenGo is hitching its wagon to Joanna Howe’s crusade, and the former Nationals MP George Christensen is on board

Tory Shepherd
Thu 11 Jun 2026

Among the hand-drawn signs warning of the “evil” of abortion at last week’s Sydney rally were some more professional placards. “The greatest liberty is the right to life,” the blue-and-white posters read, under a small logo for CitizenGo.

CitizenGo will not be a familiar name to many in Australia but in Europe it looms large in the anti-abortion, anti-LGBTQ+ rights world. An offshoot of the ultra-conservative Spanish group HazteOír (Make Yourself Heard), it was founded in Spain in 2013 and claims to have 20 million members across 50 countries.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jun/12/a-shadowy-overseas-group-is-trying-to-influence-australian-abortion-policy-who-are-they-and-what-do-they-want-ntwnfb

Australian conservatives claim babies are sometimes ‘born alive’ after an abortion. What’s the truth?

Religious groups and conservative MPs want a law to supposedly protect those born alive, but experts say their claims are misleading and could threaten access to healthcare

Tory Shepherd
Tue 27 Aug 2024

Some religious groups and conservative politicians in Australia have claimed babies are being “born alive” after abortions and left to die alone.

But experts warn “born alive” campaigns are riddled with misinformation, use misleading statistics and could threaten women’s access to abortions.

So what’s really going on?

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/aug/28/australian-conservatives-claim-babies-are-sometimes-born-alive-after-an-abortion-whats-the-truth

Australia – Catholic doctors urged to back George Christensen’s ‘nonsensical’ abortion bill

Catholic Medical Association asks members to support bill critics say will only inflict harm

Amy Remeikis
Mon 5 Jul 2021

Catholic doctors are being urged to support
George Christensen’s “nonsensical” abortion bill, leading to concerns medical
professionals could impose their religious beliefs on patients.

The Catholic Medical Association has sent out an email to members asking them
to put their name to a letter supporting Christensen’s Children Born Alive
Protection bill which seeks to enforce providing “life-sustaining treatment” to
all foetuses “born alive”.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/jul/06/catholic-doctors-urged-to-back-george-christensens-nonsensical-abortion-bill

Australia – Why conservatives are not making a fuss over Labor’s abortion policy

Why conservatives are not making a fuss over Labor's abortion policy

By Laura Tingle
Mar 13, 2019

Video (43 sec): Tanya Plibersek says there's been "a very big change in the Labor Party" regarding attitudes to abortion. (ABC News)

Last week, something extraordinary happened in federal politics and went virtually unmentioned.

The Australian Labor Party announced a policy that would have once been regarded as high-risk politics at the least.

Continued: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-14/conservatives-arent-making-a-fuss-over-labors-abortion-policy/10893662

Australia – Let Me Count The Ways I Tried To Talk To George Christensen About Abortion

Let Me Count The Ways I Tried To Talk To George Christensen About Abortion
Look, I tried.

Posted on April 26, 2018
Gina Rushton, BuzzFeed News Reporter, Australia

Nationals MP George Christensen last month attended an anti-abortion rally, wrote to the treasurer, and made social media posts calling for millions of dollars in Australia's foreign aid budget to be allocated to pregnancy counselling for Australian women.

Christensen wrote to treasurer Scott Morrison to ask that $9.5 million allocated to an international family planning organisation be redirected to pregnancy counselling services for young Australian mothers.

Continued: https://www.buzzfeed.com/ginarushton/i-tried-talking-to-george-christensen-about-abortion-via?utm_term=.swWdQLV89#.ua7g037Ya

Australia – George Christensen attacks own government over abortion services funding

George Christensen attacks own government over abortion services funding
Liberal National party MP says he will ask Scott Morrison to divert funding away from planned parenthood agency

Australian Associated Press
Sun 18 Mar 2018

The outspoken Liberal National party MP George Christensen has hit out at his own government for its funding of abortion services in Australia and around the world.

The federal member for Dawson was joined by the incoming Queensland senator Amanda Stoker on Sunday as they addressed hundreds of pro-lifers at a rally outside state parliament in Brisbane.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/mar/18/george-christensen-attacks-own-government-over-abortion-services-funding

18.03.2018