Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has criticised the Coalition MPs who intervened in a debate about employer-paid parental leave for mothers of stillborn babies, saying it was insensitive to raise concerns that the entitlements could be claimed by mothers who have late-term abortions.

But Barnaby Joyce – who, along with Andrew Hastie, Tony Pasin and Henry Pike, aired the issue during debate about Priya’s Bill last week – accused Ley of being disingenuous and misrepresenting their requests for clarity on the bill’s scope.

It is the latest issue to expose divisions in the opposition, with former frontbencher Jane Hume also condemning the MPs’ decision to question eligibility in parliament last Wednesday after the Coalition had announced it was supporting the new law.

On Monday, Coalition sen

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