Kirsten Lesina at odds with cousin and KAP candidate Steve Lesina over abortion

The relative of a Far North KAP candidate has lashed her own cousin over his party’s plans to roll back abortion laws introduced by Labor in 2018.

Former councillor and state election candidate Kirsten Lesina pictured in 2012. Picture: Tom Lee

A relative of a Far North Katter’s Australian Party candidate has lashed out at her own cousin on his party’s plans to roll back abortion laws.

Abortion became a surprise topic ahead of Queensland’s election after the state KAP leader Robbie Katter announced his party would introduce a private member’s bill to roll back the decriminalisation of abortion after the election.

Kirsten Lesina, second cousin of Mulgrave’s KAP candidate Steve Lesina, has spoken out on the divisive issue she said was a real possibility of becoming illegal again if the LNP wins government.

KAP candidate Steve Lesina. Picture: Steve Lesina

“I think if the LNP is elected then it is a real tangible risk, and the vast majority of their party voted against the decriminalisation of abortion, including David Crisafulli,” she said.

In 2018 both Labor and the Liberal National Party granted their members a conscience vote on a bill to decriminalise abortion, which passed after 50 MPs voted in favour and 41 against. Three LNP MPs Tim Nicholls, Steve Minnikin and Jann Stuckey were the only parliamentarians to break ranks in support of the laws.

Voting in the electorate of Mulgrave this election Ms Lesina was the youngest councillor to ever be elected to Cairns Regional Council but stood down to run for the seat of Cairns after being preselected by the ALP in 2011, however she was not elected.

Kirsten Lesina is voting in the Mulgrave electorate this election.

“I would never vote for anyone that would take away a woman’s bodily autonomy,” she said.

“It’s a fundamental attack on women’s human rights and I can’t support that.

“I would always like to support my family where I can, (but) I don’t want anyone telling me what I can do with my body.

“When Charles Lesina was MP for Charters Towers, he tried to turn back the clock by bringing back the White Australia policy and put himself on the wrong side of history, what a shame to see another Lesina putting himself on the wrong side of history.”

Katter’s Australian Party leader Robbie Katter and Senator Gerard Rennick and in Cairns on Tuesday for a cost of living tour. Picture: Peter Carruthers

Mr Katter was in Cairns on Tuesday with Senator Gerard Rennick to advocate for practical measures to ease the cost of living and an end to the “Brisbane’s climate tax”.

“We’re here today to say we stand together against the climate tax that’s pervasive,” he said. “It’s hitting us everywhere, it’s one of the biggest contributors to cost of living, and we’re to stand up against it and taking this to the election and and saying to people that we will be a backstop against this acceleration from both the Brisbane based major parties.”

On the abortion debate Mr Katter said how KAP policy impacted candidates leading up to the election was not a “starting point for our decision making”.

“Unlike the majors, we’re not trying to second guess what the people are going to vote for, like or not like?

“We’ve set our position on it (and) we’ll look at what the landscape looks like after the election.”

Mr Lesina said defended the group’s position on abortion and said the KAP was a “conservative party based on Christian values”.

“We are pro-life,” he said.

“I know abortion is a touchy subject and people have their own views on it and we understand that.

“(Kirsten) has made her point clear and it is what it is.”

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Originally published as Kirsten Lesina at odds with cousin and KAP candidate Steve Lesina over abortion