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LNP members want the Labour Day public holiday moved to October

By Felicity Caldwell

The Labour Day public holiday should be moved from May to October, LNP members have argued at the party's state convention.

In 2016, the Palaszczuk government reinstated Labour Day's traditional date in May, reversing changes made under the Newman government, which had argued it spread out the state's public holidays across the year.

Former attorney-general Jarrod Bleijie supports moving Labour Day back to October.

Former attorney-general Jarrod Bleijie supports moving Labour Day back to October.Credit: AAP Image/ Glenn Hunt

A resolution passed at the LNP state convention on Sunday supported a future LNP state government moving Labour Day to October and the Queen's Birthday public holiday back to June.

LNP member for Kawana Jarrod Bleijie, who as attorney-general moved Labour Day to October, said it was good for business and tourism.

But delegate Chris McLoughlin said when the party argued about when to have a public holiday, people turned off and it was not a vote-winner.

"Will Labor just change it back to May day again ... Are we just going to play this out every election cycle?" he asked.

The state convention sets party policy, while resolutions that pass are referred to the parliamentary team for consideration as possible future government policy.

Members also voted to support the reintroduction of optional preferential voting for state elections.

Labor introduced compulsory preferential voting in 2016, meaning voters had to number every box at the 2017 state election.

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Former member for Hinchinbrook Andrew Cripps, who lost his seat at the November poll to Katter's Australian Party's Nick Dametto - who came third in the primary vote - argued for a return to optional preferential voting.

"The bastards finally got me," he said.

"I'm afraid the Hinchinbrook formula will now be applied to other seats across this state where parties who oppose us are going to field a number of candidates from Labor and other ratbag parties named after people with very large egos.

"And they will preference in a circle and it doesn't matter who wins it but the LNP won't."

LNP members rejected abortion reform in Queensland

Senator Amanda Stoker spoke in support of rejecting changes to Queensland's abortion laws.

Senator Amanda Stoker spoke in support of rejecting changes to Queensland's abortion laws.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen / Fairfax Media

Ahead of the abortion debate reigniting in state politics, LNP members voted to reject any attempts to change existing abortion legislation in Queensland, with almost every person in the room supporting the resolution.

Abortion is in the Criminal Code in Queensland.

Senator Amanda Stoker told the convention a society must be judged by the way it treated those who could not speak for themselves.

"The previous speaker indicated that there were circumstances where a woman has no choice but to abort," she said.

"But we all have choices and our duty as a society is to try to do all we can to give people a real choice, the support they need to be able to raise a child and not feel like they've only got one deadly option available to them."

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The Queensland Law Reform Commission has handed a report on abortion to Attorney-General Yvette D'Ath, following a lengthy investigation into reform.

It is understood a government bill on abortion could be tabled in August.

A Young LNP resolution calling on the federal coalition government to strip funding from NGOs which provided abortion services was not debated due to time constraints.

Another contentious resolution, opposing euthanasia or assisted suicide legislation, passed.

Following an "urgent" motion, the convention also rejected efforts by the Greens to stop the Lord's Prayer from being recited at the start of Senate sittings.

Senator Matt Canavan said everyone could share ideas such as forgiving others and being humble.

"Whether or not you come from a Christian heritage or not, I think the sentiments that are included in the prayer is something that is a shared heritage and insight for a western civilisation like ours," he said.

On Sunday, LNP leader Deb Frecklington addressed the party faithful, criticising Labor over trains, taxes, health, crime and debt, while saying the LNP needed to connect with more young people and women.

"It is only 846 days to the next election and we cannot afford to waste a single day," she said.

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Original URL: https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/link/follow-20170101-p4zq98