Premier David Crisafulli silent on why he chose to gag abortion laws vote

The Premier’s move to gag parliament on any vote to change abortion laws has been labelled ‘dangerously dismissive and negligent’, leaving lobby groups and political rivals outraged.

David Crisafulli, in a shock motion in parliament on December 10, moved for any changes to the state’s abortion laws or motions to have “this house express its views” on the issue be disallowed. Picture: John Gass

Premier David Crisafulli has refused to explain how he came to the decision the best way to prevent changes to abortion laws was to controversially gag parliament for four years.

Instead he’s insisted every MP was given “an opportunity” to vote on the gag on the floor of parliament, though debate was short and the move caught the Opposition by surprise.

The Australian Christian Lobby has already threatened to mobilise its membership base against the state LNP and labelled Mr Crisafulli’s abortion gag “dangerously dismissive and negligent”.

Mr Crisafulli, in a shock motion in parliament on December 10, moved for any changes to the state’s abortion laws or motions to have “this house express its views” on the issue be disallowed.

The government’s abortion gag neutralises any discussion on the divisive topic that become a flashpoint of the recent state election campaign.

It also ensures Mr Crisafulli can keep his election promise that there would be no changes to abortion laws this term.

Mr Crisafulli, when asked on Friday, would not say when he knew he could gag parliament to achieve his promise, when he decided to do it, and whether LNP MPs were told it was going to happen.

“I said to you that I would find a way, and that was a way that ensured that every Member of Parliament got an opportunity to vote on it, and it was a way of making sure that I fulfilled my words,” he said.

It has since been confirmed LNP MPs were notified of the motion in party room, the day before it was moved in parliament.

The gag motion sparked outrage from the Katter’s Australian Party, which labelled the move as the “death of democracy” with leader Robbie Katter warning it was a slippery slope that showed the LNP was willing to deny debate on issues that they found ­uncomfortable.

Opposition Leader Steven Miles on Friday said if Mr Crisafulli sincerely believed it was a reasonable policy response he “wouldn’t have sprung it on us as a surprise”.

Reacting to the gag motion, Opposition leader Steven Miles said he has never seen parliament treated with such contempt. Picture: Lachie Millard

“He would have tabled it with notice, he would have explained to the media the rationale and the process by which it was decided,” Mr Miles said.

“The LNP has been very determined to try to focus on the Labor caucus, but there’s real questions here about, did the LNP caucus endorse this? Who supported it and who opposed it?

“This gag motion that David Crisafulli has put in place, really was quite extraordinary. I’ve been in the parliament for 10 years. I have never seen the parliament treated with that level of contempt. It’s pretty concerning, given it was only the fourth day of this new government.”

Australian Christian Lobby Queensland State Director, in a media statement earlier this week, said the gag motion was “dangerously dismissive and negligent”.

“Mr Crisafulli has misread the electorate and burdened pro-life LNP MPs with a millstone by pressuring them to support his gag motion,” he said.