Robbie Katter says LNP Leader David Crisafulli is ‘stealing votes’ from KAP over abortion dodge

KAP leader Robbie Katter has accused David Crisafulli of stealing his voters by avoiding uncomfortable subjects on the campaign trail, especially when it comes to abortion.

KAP leader Robbie Katter has accused the LNP leader of stealing his voters by avoiding uncomfortable subjects on the campaign trail, especially when it comes to abortion.

He said party leaders had the responsibility to answer questions about issues they were asked about as he slammed the LNP’s candidates for avoiding subjects outside of their priorities.

Attempts were made on Friday to ask LNP candidates Adam Baillie (Townsville), Natalie Marr (Thuringowa) and Janelle Poole (Mundingburra) their views on abortion, but they did not respond to requests for comment.

Mr Katter said he had been criticised for speaking about his firm views against abortion in the weeks leading to the election, which has given it the attention of an election issue.

Robbie Katter MP KAP Leader and Member for Traeger. Picture: Nigel Hallett

But he was responding to a question put to him by a journalist and he believed politicians had the obligation to not shy away from uncomfortable issues.

“Why not talk about it, just because it’s uncomfortable?

“It doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be debated and doesn’t mean I have to agree on the outcome.

“What a silly thing to say it shouldn’t be talked about in an election campaign.

“He (Mr Crisafulli) keeps trying to ride two horses on everything.

“Labor don’t actually do it so much, they get away with saying ‘we support abortion’ and that’s it.

“But Crisafulli comes up to Townsville and says oh yeah bloody Labor they’re pushing all this abortion stuff, and he will say all the right words that people want to hear and trick them into thinking he would be against abortion, but then he goes to the party room and says ‘no I’m with you guys’.

Leader of the Opposition David Crisafulli. Picture: Liam Kidston.

“And then he’s been caught out here and it’s like you know what you should get caught out every now and then because you keep trying to fool people that otherwise would vote for KAP.

“You’re stealing them off us by misleading them and now you’re crying because you’re being caught out on something.”

Originally published as Robbie Katter says LNP Leader David Crisafulli is ‘stealing votes’ from KAP over abortion dodge