UK – State and federal MPs describe death threats and vile abuse in wake of Joanna Howe’s anti-abortion campaign

Representatives around the country say third parties sent abusive messages after they were targeted for their stance on abortion

Tory Shepherd
Wed 21 May 2025

State and federal MPs around the country say they and their staff have received death threats from third parties amid controversy generated by the self-described “assertiveness” of the anti-abortion activist Joanna Howe.

Howe, an expert in migration law at the University of Adelaide, has campaigned for anti-abortion laws in various state parliaments, and this month organised a rally – attended by the former prime minister Tony Abbott – against NSW reforms to improve access to services. She said on social media people “need to be hysterical” about the bill, which represented what she called “an extreme, radical takeover of our country”.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/21/state-and-federal-mps-describe-death-threats-and-vile-abuse-in-wake-of-joanna-howes-anti-abortion-campaign-ntwnfb

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

How the abortion bandwagon has proved a useful vehicle for political advantage

From Queensland to South Australia, tacticians of different stripes have been able to leverage the conviction of true-believers

Karen Middleton
Fri 25 Oct 2024

When politicians start talking about abortion law, it’s often more about the politics than the law. When this occurs in the heat of an election campaign, the likelihood of that only increases.

Since Robbie Katter ignited the final weeks of the Queensland state election campaign with his talk of winding back abortion law under a possible future Liberal National government, similar talk has crept south and into the federal arena.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/oct/25/how-the-abortion-bandwagon-has-proved-a-useful-vehicle-for-political-advantage

Unearthed: the interview that reveals answer to abortion question David Crisafulli has dodged more than 132 times

Exclusive: Queensland LNP leader faced questions at leaders’ debate after saying in 2023 he would allow MPs a conscience vote on changes to legislation

Andrew Messenger
Tue 22 Oct 2024

Queensland’s opposition leader, David Crisafulli, told a live audience last year “I don’t believe in late-term abortions” and promised MPs a conscience vote on the issue.

The Liberal National party leader has been dogged by the issue for weeks, refusing to declare his hand on a bill which will be introduced by Katter’s Australian party next parliament, including whether he would vote for it or grant other MPs a conscience vote.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/oct/22/queensland-election-2024-lnp-abortion-policy-david-crisafulli

22.10.2024

Australia – Greens accuse Queensland Labor of ‘pure hypocrisy’ on abortion after Katter party election preferences

ALP how to vote cards in northern electorates put LNP last despite Robbie Katter’s vow to attempt wind back of termination laws

Ben Smee
Tue 15 Oct 2024

The Greens say Queensland Labor’s decision to direct preferences to Katter’s Australia Party candidates in north Queensland electorates is “absolute pure hypocrisy”, amid the ongoing debate over abortion laws.

Robbie Katter, the KAP leader, has vowed to introduce a private member’s bill to wind back abortion rights and access, that would notionally spark a conscience vote.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/oct/15/queensland-state-election-abortion-policy-labor-lnp-robbie-katter

15.10.2024

Queensland abortion law

Australia – Crisafulli wedged on abortion as Katter party flags vote to criminalise terminations

Exclusive: Robbie Katter says he will immediately sponsor a bill to amend the current legislation if the LNP is elected this month

Andrew Messenger and Ben Smee
Wed 9 Oct 2024

The Queensland crossbencher Robbie Katter says he will consider forcing a vote on the recriminalisation of abortion if the Liberal National party wins government at this month’s state election.

Katter says he will table legislation to wind back current laws with one option a “clean repeal” of Labor’s 2018 Termination of Pregnancy Act, a move that would return abortion to the 1899 criminal code.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/oct/09/queensland-state-election-abortion-rights-lnp-policy-law-changes-ntwnfb

09.10.2024

News

2018 Termination of Pregnancy Act

Queensland’s abortion law change improved access but ‘postcode lottery’ remains

Queensland's abortion law change improved access but 'postcode lottery' remains
Decriminalisation’s effect has varied across the state, but overall it has been judged ‘good news’

Ben Smee
Mon 5 Aug 2019

Seven months after the state voted to decriminalise abortion, there remains a “postcode lottery” in Queensland for women attempting to access termination services, but overall the effect is being seen as positive.

As New South Wales prepares to vote this week on a decriminalisation bill, the last Australian state to do so, doctors and support services in Queensland say access has improved in many places but demand for services has not increased.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/aug/06/queenslands-abortion-law-change-improved-access-but-postcode-lottery-remains

Palaszczuk Government delivers historic abortion laws

Palaszczuk Government delivers historic abortion laws

Wednesday, October 17, 2018

Abortion will be legal in Queensland for the first time in 119 years after the Parliament passed the Palaszczuk Government’s historic laws tonight.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the Termination of Pregnancy Act 2018 will ensure women can access services and health professionals can provide these services without fear or stigma.

Continued: http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2018/10/17/palaszczuk-government-delivers-historic-abortion-laws

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