Abortion conscience vote across the parties would tip scales
AS EMOTIVE as the debate around the abortion Bill is likely to be, the outcome will come down to the cold truth of the numbers, writes State Political Editor Sarah Vogler.
CM Insight
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QUEENSLAND’S Parliament is bracing for what will be one of the most emotional and contentious debates on its floor in recent years when Labor’s Termination of Pregnancy Bill returns to the chamber next month.
Currently, Queensland is one of two states where abortion remains a crime, unless a woman’s pregnancy is deemed to be a serious risk to her physical or mental health.
The Palaszczuk Government’s Bill seeks to allow abortion on request up to 22 weeks’ gestation and with the consent of a medical professional, and in consultation with a second medical professional after 22 weeks.
They must take into account all relevant medical circumstances, along with the woman’s current and future physical, psychological and social circumstances, and the professional standards and guidelines that apply when deciding if an abortion after 22 weeks’ gestation should occur.
It will also establish 150m “safe access zones” around clinics where abortions are performed to stop women entering from being harassed or filmed by protesters.
The Government hopes it will have the numbers to successfully decriminalise the procedure.
But with Labor MPs granted a conscience vote and Opposition MPs yet to decide if they will do the same, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has admitted the numbers will be tight.
It could mean Labor will lose a Bill on the floor of the House, despite now having its coveted majority of one.
It will be the second attempt in almost as many years after former MP Rob Pyne failed in his bid to remove abortion from the Criminal Code in 2017.
Pyne’s Bill was doomed to fail in the hung Parliament, with the LNP Opposition and the Katter MPs lining up to vote it down.
A quick compromise was made. Pyne would withdraw his Bill and the issue would be sent to the Queensland Law Reform Commission to consider. Fast-forward 18 months and Labor — armed with laws crafted by the QLRC — is trying again.
The legislation is set for debate in the October sittings, starting October 16. Labor now has 48 seats in the 93-seat Parliament.
Queensland’s three Katter MPs have already made it clear they will be voting no. At least two Labor MPs are understood to be voting against the Bill as well.
So, at the very least, the Government will need one MP from the crossbench or the LNP to back the changes.
But if more decide they cannot support the Bill, then Labor will need more support to come from either the crossbench or the LNP.
Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington has committed to giving her party room a vote as to whether they will have a free vote on the Bill once the parliamentary committee charged with inquiring into the changes hands down its report next month.
There are MPs within the LNP’s party room who consider themselves pro-choice and may back the Bill.
They have been warned by LNP president Gary Spence, however, that their support for Labor’s Bill could have consequences for them should they seek preselection to contest the next election in October 2020.
Decriminalising abortion is against LNP party policy, and Mr Spence warned MPs last month the party’s powerful State Council could attempt to overturn the preselections of those MPs who backed Labor’s changes.
Pro-life groups including the Catholic Church have been lobbying MPs to dismiss the Bill. They argue, among other points, that there are not enough safeguards, such as penalties for doctors who do not seek a second opinion before granting an abortion after 22 weeks.
Pro-choice groups have also been working to convince MPs of the merits of the changes.
The opposing views were played out in hearings conducted by the Health, Communities, Disability Services, and Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Committee last week, where doctors, lawyers, pro-life and pro-choice groups gave evidence alongside women who shared their own personal experiences.
The committee also received more than 6200 submissions. It will hold one final hearing next week, where Queensland Health and the Department of Justice and Attorney-General will appear to respond to committee questions and to issues raised by submitters. It will then report back on October 5, about 11 days before debate on the Bill could begin.
Whatever happens, it will not be the only sensitive issue to be tackled by the Parliament this term.
The Premier has committed to calling an inquiry into end-of-life care — including voluntary assisted dying — once the abortion Bill has been dealt with.
When any potential euthanasia laws could come before the House for debate is yet to be determined.
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