LNP senator and Broncos chairman back Queensland anti-abortion campaign containing ‘baseless’ claims

Exclusive: claims made in campaign material by rightwing lobby group Cherish Life about abortion laws are labelled ‘disinformation’

Ben Smee
Fri 16 Oct 2020

The Liberal National party senator Gerard Rennick and the Brisbane Broncos chairman, Karl Morris, are among the financial backers of a prominent anti-abortion “disinformation” campaign targeting marginal seats ahead of the Queensland election.

Billboards, leaflets and advertisements authorised by the lobby group, Cherish Life, include provocative statements about Queensland’s abortion laws that have repeatedly been found to be baseless.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/oct/16/lnp-senator-and-broncos-chairman-back-queensland-anti-abortion-campaign-containing-baseless-claims

Queensland election: LNP tries to keep anti-abortion push out of sight

Deb Frecklington seeks broad support in a state that backs abortion rights, but some LNP MPs and poll candidates are pressing for a more divisive approach

Ben Smee
Fri 16 Oct 2020

At a campaign stop this week, the Queensland opposition leader, Deb Frecklington, was asked about the Liberal National party’s policy to review the state’s abortion laws. She quickly changed the subject.

“I haven’t got the details of that yet, it’s not a priority,” Frecklington said.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/oct/17/why-queenslands-opposition-leader-wants-partys-anti-abortion-push-kept-out-of-election-sight

Queensland – LNP moderates warn of ‘rum rebellion’ if trio who backed abortion rights disendorsed

LNP moderates warn of 'rum rebellion' if trio who backed abortion rights disendorsed
Meeting in Bundaberg could open up longstanding schisms in merged party

Ben Smee
Fri 16 Nov 2018

Queensland Liberal National party moderates have warned of a “rum rebellion” if the party’s state council meeting in Bundaberg this weekend takes action against three MPs who voted for abortion rights.

Three state MPs from Brisbane and the Gold Coast – Tim Nicholls, Steve Minnikin and Jann Stuckey – could be disendorsed for supporting a bill to decriminalise abortion last month.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/nov/17/lnp-moderates-warn-of-rum-rebellion-if-trio-who-backed-abortion-rights-disendorsed

Queensland abortion vote set to split along party lines

Queensland abortion vote set to split along party lines
No Labor MPs have spoken against the legislation but the LNP is digging in for amendments before Thursday’s division

Ben Smee
Tue 16 Oct 2018

The Queensland parliament has agreed to hold a conscience vote to decriminalise abortion; but after a day of debate, support for the legislation remains split firmly along party lines.

On Tuesday, the parliament heard emotional personal stories. Nikki Boyd, the Labor member for Pine Rivers, said she went through a miscarriage in 2016 when a committee was considering abortion law reform. She is now pregnant again.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/oct/16/queensland-abortion-vote-set-to-split-along-party-lines

Queensland abortion bill debate brings politicians to tears

Queensland abortion bill debate brings politicians to tears
by Allyson Horn

Oct 16, 2018

Politicians have broken down in tears and recounted their personal experiences with pregnancy and termination while debating laws to decriminalise abortion in Queensland.

A vote on the proposal is expected late today.

If the bill passes, it will allow abortions up until 22 weeks' gestation, and post 22 weeks with the approval of two medical practitioners.

Continued: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-17/queensland-abortion-debate-politicians-in-tears/10386110

Abortion Debate in Australia Has a New Element: Women in Power

Abortion Debate in Australia Has a New Element: Women in Power

By Rick Rojas
Oct. 15, 2018

BRISBANE, Australia — Activists in the Australian state of Queensland have tried for decades to scrap a criminal code from 1899 that makes having an abortion an offense punishable with prison time, and for decades their efforts have failed.

But as the state Parliament again considers whether to decriminalize abortion, advocates say this time may be different: Women will be leading the debate.

Continued: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/15/world/australia/australia-abortion-vote-women.html

Queensland abortion legalisation to be put to conscience vote

Queensland abortion legalisation to be put to conscience vote
Legislation decriminalising abortion expected to pass parliament after Liberal National party lets MPs choose

Ben Smee
Tue 9 Oct 2018

Queensland is expected to pass legislation to decriminalise abortion next week, after the opposition Liberal National party decided to allow its MPs a conscience vote.

The decision, announced after a lengthy party room meeting on Tuesday afternoon, will pave the way for the removal of abortion from the 1899 criminal code.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/oct/09/queensland-abortion-legalisation-to-be-put-to-conscience-vote

Australia – Committee recommends conscience vote on abortion

Committee recommends conscience vote on abortion

By Felicity Caldwell
5 October 2018

Politicians should be able to exercise their conscience when voting on whether to reform the state's "archaic" abortion laws, a parliamentary committee says.

However, two opposition MPs were scathing of the committee's decision to delve into the issue of conscience votes, arguing it was a party decision and anyone who needed help to understand the concept could look it up in the Oxford dictionary.

Continued: https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/politics/queensland/committee-recommends-conscience-vote-on-abortion-20181005-p5081x.html

Queensland moves to decriminalise abortion within months

Queensland moves to decriminalise abortion within months
Fierce debate looms, with no guarantee legislation to allow women to terminate a pregnancy up to 22 weeks will pass

Ben Smee
Mon 16 Jul 2018

Abortion would be removed from the Queensland criminal code under legislation that will be brought before the state parliament next month.

As revealed by Guardian Australia on Saturday, the proposed laws will make abortion available up to 22 weeks and provide safe access zones around abortion clinics.

Government MPs will be allowed a conscience vote, while the opposition Liberal National party has said it will scrutinise the detail before deciding how to proceed. The bill will be tabled in August, with a vote expected in October.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/16/queensland-decriminalise-abortion-within-months