Queensland Government Moves Motion Shutting Down Debate on Abortion

A pro-life person holds a model of a fetus while protesting in Aurora, Illinois, on Oct. 2, 2007. Scott Olson/Getty Images

Just weeks into his first term as Queensland’s new Premier David Crisafulli is being asked to resign.

The call comes from prominent Australian anti-abortion campaigner Dr. Joanna Howe, who expressed concern over a Liberal National Party (LNP) bill to ban discussing potential changes to current abortion laws in the state.

“David Crisafulli has just passed a motion banning any bill on abortion over the next four years,” Howe said in a statement online.

“Not only is this fundamentally anti-democratic, it is also potentially unconstitutional.

“And most importantly it completely abandons Queensland newborns who are left to die if they survive their abortion and Queensland babies who can be killed right up until birth under current law.”

Hawe has demanded in online petition that Crisafulli step down over the move.

The bill, which was presented as a motion without notice, calls for no amendments to the current Termination of Pregnancy Act to be made.

It states that “not withstanding anything in standing or sessional orders, this house orders that: no bill or amendment seeking to amend the Termination of Pregnancy Act 2018 is allowed to be introduced.

“No motion or amendment seeking to have this house express its views on the Termination of Pregnancy Act 2018 is allowed to be moved.”

The motion is likely aimed at stemming any more political fallout from the hyper-sensitive abortion issue, which galvanised progressive voters.

During October’s state election, the former Labor government was able to leverage the topic to win over parts of the electorate and stem a potential “blue wave” election defeat—the LNP had announced no plans on abortion.

The issue was initially raised by Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) who vowed to rescind the 2018 act which decriminalised and increased access to abortion. However, weeks later, KAP softened its stance, but the issue had already impacted polling.

Premier: Labor Spent Millions

Speaking in Parliament, Crisafulli said he was asked repeatedly if repealing the state’s abortion laws was part of his plan, to which he said he responded that there would be no changes.

“Despite that, the social media tsunami, the grubby phone calls continued unabated,” he said.

“(Labor) spent millions of dollars on a disgraceful scare campaign.”

Crisafulli said he wanted to speak directly to young women who were impacted by Labor’s suggestion abortion laws would be rolled back.

“Labor knew this wasn’t on the agenda, but they did it for grubby political purposes,” he said.

“Labor didn’t care about a woman’s right to choose, it was all about Labor’s desperate right to rule.”

Deputy Opposition Leader Cameron Dick and KAP MP Robbie Katter were both critical of the move.

“I’m absolutely gobsmacked,” Katter said.

“I can’t get my head around this—clearly it’s targeted where we’re going to be the only party to bring something in here like this.

“We try and do it with respect, appreciating that it’s a tricky subject for people, but we should have the right to bring something in here.”

Dick said the bill was an abuse of parliamentary procedures.

Labor did not support the bill.