Australia – Punishing LNP MPs who backed abortion rights could ‘light the fuse’ for demerger

Punishing LNP MPs who backed abortion rights could ‘light the fuse’ for demerger
Warren Entsch, who opposed the merger, says one party cannot represent the diversity of views among members

Ben Smee
Sun 21 Oct 2018

Leading moderates in the Queensland Liberal National party have warned that any recriminations against MPs who supported abortion rights would “light the fuse” for a demerger push.

Three MPs – Tim Nicholls, Steve Minnikin and Jann Stuckey – used their conscience vote in parliament to support the Palaszczuk government’s abortion decriminalisation bill.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/oct/22/punishing-lnp-mps-who-backed-abortion-rights-could-light-the-fuse-for-dermerger

Australia – Politicians Who Voted to Legalise Abortion Are Now Receiving Threats

Politicians Who Voted to Legalise Abortion Are Now Receiving Threats
Anti-abortion groups have vowed to "remove" MPs who voted for change.

by Gavin Butler
Oct 18 2018

This week, the Queensland parliament voted to change a 119-year-old clause in the state’s criminal code and officially legalise abortion. Both Labor and Liberal National Party (LNP) members were given a conscience vote, and the legislative change—which now grants people the right to request an abortion up to 22 weeks into the pregnancy—was approved by a comfortable majority of 50 votes to 41.

Among those 50 were three LNP MPs—Tim Nicholls, Steve Minnikin and Jann Stuckey—who voted against their party’s formal policy on abortion in support of the new laws. In so doing, the MPs opened themselves up to criticism and condemnation from within their own ranks, The Guardian reports—to say nothing of the wrath from anti-abortion activists.

Continued: https://www.vice.com/en_au/article/yw9jy5/politicians-who-voted-to-legalise-abortion-are-now-receiving-threats

Queensland parliament votes to legalise abortion

Queensland parliament votes to legalise abortion
Abortion will become legal until 22 weeks gestation, and thereafter with the approval of two doctors

Ben Smee
Wed 17 Oct 2018

Abortion will become legal in Queensland, after the state’s parliament voted to support new legislation and erase a 119-year-old “morality” section of the state’s criminal code.

Loud cheers in the legislative assembly chamber at 7.42pm on Wednesday brought to an end a 50-year struggle by women’s groups in a state once notorious for its conservatism.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/oct/17/queensland-parliament-votes-to-legalise-abortion

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

Queensland doctors accused of ‘deep disrespect’ for women seeking abortion

Queensland doctors accused of 'deep disrespect' for women seeking abortion
Ahead of legalisation debate, pro-choice GP says regional doctors ‘dictate to women’

Ben Smee
Sun 7 Oct 2018

Doctors in regional Queensland routinely treat women seeking an abortion with “deep disrespect” and dictate scripture instead of dispensing medical advice, pro-choice GPs in the state say.

“Abortion is a mortal sin and you’ll go to hell,” one doctor reportedly told a woman in Cairns, who had asked about terminating her unwanted pregnancy.
Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/oct/08/queensland-doctors-accused-of-deep-disrespect-for-women-seeking-abortion