The Greens say Queensland Labor’s decision to direct preferences to Katter’s Australia Party candidates in north Queensland electorates is “absolute pure hypocrisy”, amid the ongoing debate over abortion laws.
Robbie Katter, the KAP leader, has vowed to introduce a private member’s bill to wind back abortion rights and access, that would notionally spark a conscience vote.
The prospect of a conscience vote has derailed the Liberal National party’s statewide campaign, as the opposition leader, David Crisafulli, and his candidates repeatedly refuse to detail their personal views, only repeating the party line that reform is “not part of our plans” and has been “ruled out”.
Labor decriminalised abortion in 2018 and has sought to put the issue at the forefront of the campaign, saying there is a “very real risk” that reproductive rights will be wound back if the LNP wins government.
On Tuesday the Greens said Labor should stop volunteers handing out how-to-vote cards in at least eight north and central Queensland electorates that direct preferences to the KAP.
“It’s absolute pure hypocrisy for Labor to be talking about defending the right to choose while making it more likely that hard-right, anti-choice MPs get elected,” the Greens MP for South Brisbane, Amy McMahon, said.
“These are seats where the Katter party has a high chance of winning, Labor preferences could push them over the line in a race against the LNP.”
The premier, Steven Miles, has said Labor MPs would also have a conscience vote on any abortion proposal, though the overwhelming majority are on the record supporting abortion rights.
The Greens say they have “an ironclad guarantee” that all MPs would vote against re-criminalising abortion.
“The Greens will protect abortion rights, and we’ll keep up the pressure on both parties to make sure access is rolled out through the public health system like Labor promised but which they haven’t delivered.”
The deputy premier, Cameron Dick, dismissed the claim.
“I don’t take political advice from the Queensland Greens political party,” he said.
“I never have and I never will.”
The Queensland election will be held on 26 October.
