Australia – Minister pushed one-time rival from hospital role, then changed board laws

By Matt Dennien
December 15, 2025

Queensland’s health minister pushed a prominent abortion advocate to quit a hospital board concerned that her public work could harm its relationship with the new LNP government.

Documents obtained by this masthead show Health Minister Tim Nicholls directed former board member Daile Kelleher – once a candidate for his seat of Clayfield – to “resolve” what he deemed were unmanageable conflicts between her roles.

Kelleher, the chief executive of Sexual and Reproductive Health Australia, decided to speak out after state parliament last week passed laws giving cabinet the power to dismiss health service board members without reason.

Continued: https://archive.is/FLJtv
(https://www.smh.com.au/politics/queensland/minister-pushed-one-time-rival-from-hospital-role-then-changed-board-laws-20251211-p5nmue.html)

15.12.2025

Family Planning Alliance Australia

Linda Waugh

Sexual and Reproductive Health Australia

Queensland parliament passes ‘unprecedented’ gag on abortion debate

Ambush motion, introduced by David Crisafulli, aimed at preventing potential public disunity in LNP ranks by ensuring MPs won’t be forced into a conscience vote

Andrew Messenger
Tue 10 Dec 2024

The Queensland parliament has been banned from debate on abortion for four years after an ambush motion by the premier, David Crisafulli, in a move labelled “unprecedented”.

The motion also requires any “motion or amendment” seeking to have the house “express its views” on abortion be ruled out of order. Opposition and crossbench MPs labelled the move “extraordinary” and “unprecedented”.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/10/queensland-parliament-passes-unprecedented-gag-on-abortion-debate

10.12.2024

News

David Crisafulli

gag on abortion debate

My abortion is acceptable simply because it is a decision I made. I am thankful to be in Australia

Australian politicians are using the US election to fan the flames of a fire we thought had been put out. It must be extinguished

Hannah Ferguson
Thu 10 Oct 2024

Last month I sat on the toilet seat staring down at the cheapest pregnancy test I could find at the supermarket. My mind went blank. I knew before the white strip could tell me. I was pregnant.

I live in Sydney. Abortion was decriminalised in New South Wales in 2019. It is almost five years to the day that my healthcare decision hasn’t been legislated under our criminal code. As Australia takes agonisingly slow steps forward, the US regresses faster than someone can say “I have concepts of a plan”. The supreme court’s reinstatement of Georgia’s six-week abortion ban this week affirms this.

Continued : https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/oct/10/my-abortion-is-acceptable-simply-because-it-is-a-decision-i-made-i-am-thankful-to-be-in-australia

10.10.2024

Opinion

Ben Hood

criminalisation of abortion

foetal anomalies

Hannah Ferguson

Larissa Waters

New South Wales abortion law

Australian conservatives claim babies are sometimes ‘born alive’ after an abortion. What’s the truth?

Religious groups and conservative MPs want a law to supposedly protect those born alive, but experts say their claims are misleading and could threaten access to healthcare

Tory Shepherd
Tue 27 Aug 2024

Some religious groups and conservative politicians in Australia have claimed babies are being “born alive” after abortions and left to die alone.

But experts warn “born alive” campaigns are riddled with misinformation, use misleading statistics and could threaten women’s access to abortions.

So what’s really going on?

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/aug/28/australian-conservatives-claim-babies-are-sometimes-born-alive-after-an-abortion-whats-the-truth

Queensland Boosts Abortion Services With New Hires

06 JUL 2024

The Miles Government is putting the health and safety of Queensland women and pregnant people front and centre, with a $20.78 million investment to bolster access to abortion service and support workforce.

Recruitment is underway for up to 22 full time nurses, midwives, social workers and senior medical officers across our state's Hospital and Health Services.

An additional $8 million in funding has been awarded to local NGO Children by Choice to provide crucial wrap around support and improved access to safe abortion services.

Continued: https://www.miragenews.com/queensland-boosts-abortion-services-with-new-1270399/#google_vignette

06.07.2024

News

Children by Choice

funding for abortion services

Jill McKay

Shannon Fentiman

Termination of Pregnancy Action Plan 2032

Queensland introduces Australian-first law to allow midwives and nurses to prescribe abortion pills

Exclusive: Legislation hailed as big step towards providing fair access to terminations across state

Eden Gillespie
Thu 30 Nov 2023

Queensland will become Australia’s first jurisdiction to introduce a law to allow nurses and midwives to dispense pregnancy termination medication in a move expected to improve access in the state’s “huge abortion deserts”.

In August the Therapeutic Goods Administration scrapped restrictions on the prescription of medical abortion pills, known as MS-2 Step, to be used in the early stages of pregnancy. But it is up to individual jurisdictions to determine the specific healthcare practitioner and the appropriate qualifications for prescribing.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/nov/30/queensland-law-abortion-pills-midwives-nurses-prescribed-details