Debate over Queensland’s abortion laws has made headlines ahead of this week’s official start to the state election campaign.
With pro-choice groups marching in the streets and billboards warning of an end to safe abortion services, Queenslanders might be forgiven for wondering if abortion rights are on the ballot on 26 October.
But is the Liberal National party actually planning to change abortion laws if it wins government?
Or is it just a scare campaign led by the incumbent Labor government?
Why is abortion an issue in the Queensland election?
Over the past week, Labor has been raising concerns about abortion rights in what the opposition claims is a scare campaign.
About 100 people, including senior minister Grace Grace, rallied in Brisbane’s King George Square on Friday. They carried pro-choice signs organised by the Queensland Council of Unions calling on people to “put the LNP last” at the October election.
“Don’t let LNP end safe access to abortion services,” one sign read.
This came after the LNP leader, David Crisafulli, repeatedly ruled out making any changes to the state’s abortion laws.
The party still includes members who have previously expressed views opposing abortion.
When asked about abortion at a press conference on Thursday, LNP Springwood candidate, Susanna Damianopoulos, said: “That’s is not my focus at the moment, my focus is what the community is telling me, and that’s issues around crime, cost of living health and housing.
“I believe that our leader David Crisafulli has been very clear on what the first-term LNP government will do in that space and I respect that.”
Is it legal to get an abortion in Queensland?
Abortion has been legal in Queensland since 2018, under legislation passed by Labor. The opposition granted its members a conscience vote, but only three LNP MPs – Tim Nicholls, Steve Minnikin and Jann Stuckey – voted for the bill. Stuckey later claimed she was ostracised from the party as a result and left politics in 2020.
At the time, Crisafulli and and his deputy, Jarrod Bleijie, both voted against the bill, with the latter making a speech against “killing a baby”.
The last people prosecuted in Queensland under its century-old ban were found not guilty in 2010.
Are the laws surrounding abortion about to change in Queensland?
The government recently passed laws expanding access to abortion services, particularly in regional areas.
Nurses and midwives – not just doctors – will be able to prescribe termination medication MS-2 Step.
The LNP opposed the legislation, with health spokesperson Ros Bates saying she had “genuine concerns about the safety risks” in regional areas due to a lack of services and education for providers.
During the parliamentary debate, veteran LNP MP Fiona Simpson accused Labor of “dogmatic intolerance” towards people who oppose abortion.
“That intolerance means that doctors and nurses who may want to exercise their right to conscientious objection … about the sanctity of life will be afraid that they will be demonised in the workforce,” she said at the time.
The government will implement the new $42m abortion access plan across the state, with the LNP committing to continue the scheme.
