The topic of women’s reproductive rights has been thrust into the political debate ahead of Queensland’s state election, but how exactly did it start?
Queensland decriminalised abortion in 2018, with termination allowed to up to 22 weeks gestation. After that, a woman must seek approval from two doctors.
About three weeks out from election day, Independent MP Robbie Katter said he would introduce a Private Members Bill to repeal the law.
VOTE HERE: Have your say as Queensland goes to the polls
“We will, quick as you like, put a repeal bill back into the Queensland parliament on those abortion laws,” he told the ABC earlier this month.
Katter later softened his tone, telling Sky News he wants to put forward a bill to allow medical care for babies born alive as a result of termination.
Premier Steven Miles has made the matter a key election issue, saying a woman’s right to choose is on the line.
“Queenslanders know where I stand,” Miles said in a Sky News debate with LNP leader David Crisafulli earlier this week.
“I moved those laws, I was the health minister that decriminalised abortion in our state and I will always defend a woman’s right to choose.”
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Crisafulli, who voted against the decriminalisation of abortion in 2018, has vowed there will be no change to the law if elected and said he believes in a woman’s right to choose.
He has, however, declined to make clear whether he would allow a conscience vote if the bill is introduced in parliament.
The conscience vote would allow LNP members to vote how they see fit rather than along party lines.
When asked at the debate whether he would allow a conscience vote, Crisafulli refused to give a direct answer and instead stated there would be no change.
“Those laws will not change, my team has backed in that position,” he said.
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The push to criminalise abortion has also engulfed South Australia, which last week narrowly voted down a bill that would have criminalised rare cases of abortion after 27 weeks and six days.
Coalition Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price went a step further, telling the Brisbane Times that she wants the criminalisation of abortion on the national agenda.
While abortion has been made legal in every state and territory in Australia, it is not enshrined in the constitution or federal law.
Jill McKay, chief executive of the Queensland-based Children by Choice, said it was disheartening for women that, after decades of advocacy, the right to an abortion could be repealed.
“Are we heading into a space where we don’t trust women and pregnant people with their healthcare providers to make choice around what happens for them?” she said.
“Abortion is healthcare. It’s a procedure and a medical process. Abortion is not a bad word.
“Why are we having a retrograde debate right now with the threat of a minor party or an independent candidate placing a piece of legislation in Queensland parliament with no assurance from a potentially incoming government about how they will protect women and pregnant people’s healthcare?”
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McKay added that the “hot-to-grab” and “loud” language being used around the debate on abortion is both harmful and dangerous for women.
“Our politicians need to take their hands off women’s bodies and pregnant people’s bodies and allow abortion as a necessary part of our healthcare system,” she said.
“Women are watching, and their partners, and their dads, and their grandparents are watching how this interplays.”
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Queenslanders head to the polls today to decide on their elected officials.
The latest Resolve Strategic polling conducted for the Brisbane Times saw Labor’s primary vote jump to 32 per cent and the LNP fall to 40 per cent.
Miles has been able to close in on Crisafulli as the preferred premier at 37 per cent, compared to his counterpart’s 39 per cent.
Votes will be counted from 6pm.
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