Barnaby Joyce divides the internet as he leads abortion protest with fiery rant

Former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce led protestors in an angry outburst in Sydney, New South Wales this week with a passionate speech condemning possible plans to decriminalise abortion in the state.

The 52-year-old Nationals MP took to Sydney’s Hyde Park on Sunday, alongside thousands of Australians including former prime minister Tony Abbott, to voice his opinion on the potential changes to abortion legislation. Extreme footage shared by SBS journalist Hannah Sinclair on Sunday evening showed the controversial pollie standing on a platform over the flurry of protestors shouting his views for all to hear.

With signs reading “pro-life” and “stand for life” surrounding him Joyce yelled out: “There is not one person here who was not born… there comes a time when there are two people, and two people have rights, and those rights must be respected otherwise society is destroyed.

“If you want to kill somebody, how do you do it? How do you do it? You dehumanise them, you give them another word. You don’t call them a person,” an aggressive Joyce told the crowd. “This is the slavery debate of our time.”

. @Barnaby_Joyce is now addressing the crowd. Calls abortion “animalistic” @SBSNews pic.twitter.com/bxa8dUI0wY

— Hannah Bowers (@Han_Bowers) September 15, 2019

The crowd of protestors could be heard cheering in agreement with Joyce with the politician clearly not afraid to share his view on the controversial topic with the rest of the country. The politician has since received a lot of criticism for his actions with many taking to social media to express their thoughts on his attendance at the protest.

“Hey Barnaby, stay out of women’s business and just maybe focus on struggling farmers who need water!! My uterus my choice YOU HAVE NO SAY ABOUT MY BODY!!” one commentator wrote.

Another added: “Barnaby Joyce talking about human rights? No thanks.” While a third wrote: “Middle aged white men trying to enforce what a woman can do with her body. Go back to the dark ages grom [sic] whence you have crawled out of.”

However, others agreed with the pollie, with one writing: “He’s right you know.” Another added: “Great work.”

Meanwhile, it comes after Joyce previously threatened to quit the Nationals after, according to 7 News, several “furious” New South Wales colleagues discussed expelling Joyce from the party. Appearing on camera last month, the father-of-six called for anyone in his party who is having private discussions to make their views public.

“Let’s get out from behind the shrubs, say it publicly,” he said, slamming anyone who’s told him to stay out of state issues. “That is just weasel word cop out.”

He added: “If we can get four [New South Wales Nationals] at a press conference to say so, I will resign.”

If he does resign, it means the Morrison Government will lose its one seat majority. Meanwhile, Nationals MP Darren Chester also appeared on camera and said there was “no doubt” that Joyce would remain in the Nationals party.

At the time the public was divided whether Joyce should quit, with one person on Twitter saying: “Good on Barnaby Joyce for standing up against this horrendous abortion bill.”

Another person agreed and said: “Good on you @Barnaby_Joyce . Standing up for the defenceless.” Others didn’t agree and called on the controversial politician to just quit, with one message on Twitter reading: “Don’t just threaten to quit, DO IT. You are a disgrace to politics. You are a disgrace to your family. And stop having kids.”

A further comment added: “Hey beetroot, @Barnaby_Joyce please do quit. Take your alcoholic, prolific, mealy mouthed hide back bush. Be an accountant, messiah, or whatever grabs you. You are invited.”

And it comes after Joyce’s daughter Odette called out her father on social media for his views on abortion by sharing a screen grab of an article regarding Tuesday’s protest antics on her Instagram story, with the icy caption: “Once again I do not support you.”