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


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


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