Protests as Australian abortion debate heats up

Late-term abortions led to babies being 'born alive and discarded', pro-choice campaigner Dee Madigan accused anti-abortion campaigners of scaremongering, saying there was no evidence for many of their claims.

Sydney: Thousands of people attended an anti-abortion rally in Sydney's Central Business District (CBD) on Sunday just days before state lawmakers debate a bill to decriminalise abortion in New South Wales (NSW).

Former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott attended the rally with other politicians and religious figures, including Federal MP Barnaby Joyce and Catholic Archbishop of Sydney Anthony Fisher.

While the CEO of anti-abortion organisation NSW Right To Life, Rachel Carling, claimed that late-term abortions led to babies being "born alive and discarded", pro-choice campaigner Dee Madigan accused anti-abortion campaigners of scaremongering, saying there was no evidence for many of their claims.

The bill will be back before the NSW Upper House this week to debate amendments, including making it illegal to have gender-selective abortions.

On Saturday hundreds rallied in support of the decriminalisation bill.

They called for it to be passed without amendments.

New South Wales is the only state in Australia where abortion has not been decriminalised.