In a shock move, Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has announced that the state’s parliament will not hold any debates on abortion for the next four years.
This move has raised significant concerns among opposition and crossbench MPs, who have described it as “extraordinary” and “unprecedented”. So, why did he do it, and what does it mean for abortion laws in the sunshine state?
Crisafulli’s motion effectively prevents any changes to the Termination of Pregnancy Act for four years, which was passed in 2018, legalising abortion in the state.
“I said from day one, it was not part of our plan. I said there will be no changes,” Crisafulli said.
The Premier framed this ban as a way to end what he described as a “US-style scare campaign” that they said Labor had been running during the recent election campaign.
The abortion issue kicked off in this years election when the leader of Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) Robbie Katter vowed to repeal Queensland’s abortion laws. It was also found that Crisafulli voted against the decriminalising abortion in 2018.
Crisafulli introduced the motion without prior notice after question time in parliament today, allowing only 30 minutes for debate before pushing it through with the Liberal National Party’s (LNP) majority.
Opposition Leader Steven Miles condemned this process, stating that it was “extraordinary” and that Crisafulli is “so weak he cannot control his own party”, per the ABC.
Miles also pointed out that while Crisafulli claims to support the current law, his actions suggest otherwise. Labor MP Shannon Fentiman highlighted this concern and said, “If there are further developments by the TGA to further strengthen scope of practice for health professionals… this house could not debate that issue,” per The Guardian.
“If women need more protection from attending abortion clinics, those reforms would not be possible.”
During a snap media conference after the vote, Robbie Katter expressed his disbelief at the move, stating he was “almost lost for words” and that it “offends every inch of democracy that there is in this state”.
At a press conference KAP MP Nick Dametto added, “I think Queenslanders today should be mourning the death of democracy here in the Queensland parliament.”
Greens MP Michael Berkman remarked in a statement that Crisafulli’s action indicates he “can’t count on” his MP’s to support reproductive rights if a vote were triggered.
Whether viewed as a protective measure or an infringement on democratic discourse, one thing is clear: the issue of abortion will remain a contentious topic in Queensland politics for years to come.
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