Qld Premier David Crisafulli sets abortion laws in stone for next four years

Abortion laws cannot be debated or changed for the next four years under an unprecedented act by Premier David Crisafulli dubbed “the death of democracy”.

• Qld’s history of abortion debate

Premier David Crisafulli has banned parliament from changing abortion laws in a historic move that opponents have labelled an assault on the state’s democratic process.

Mr Crisafulli, in a shock ­motion in parliament, 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 LNP government said a “shameful scare campaign” run by Labor and unions during the election campaign about a woman’s right to choose forced it to issue the ban that prevents debate on the divisive topic.

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

It will prevent the Katter’s Australian Party from putting forward its views on late-term abortion and ensures that no LNP MP, including those who have previously expressed a pro-life position, will be allowed to speak on the topic.

Premier David Crisafulli’s decision has already drawn a strong response. Picture: Supplied

Expanding abortion care could also be prevented by the government’s debate ban.

In an extraordinary show of support, the Queensland Council of Unions – the organisation who led the charge on the pro-choice ­campaign during the election – welcomed the Premier’s abortion debate gag.

“It’s a smart move by this government and a win for ­ordinary Queenslanders,” QCU general secretary Jacqueline King said.

“Abortion rights are a human right and a healthcare issue that should be determined only between a woman and her medical practitioner.”

QUT politics adjunct associate professor and former speaker John Mickel said Mr Crisafulli had achieved what he promised in the election – that nobody would move any changes on abortion this term.

“We can question the wording in the motion and the extent to which the house is stifling debate,” he said.

“(But) it shows that this ­government is willing to use its majority to enforce what it said before the election.”

Access to abortion became a flashpoint of the election after LNP MPs and candidates aired anti-abortion views, with Labor seizing on the uncertainty to destabilise the LNP’s support.

Mr Crisafulli was asked more than 130 questions on abortion through the campaign and remained adamant that there would be no changes to existing laws, but he never outlined how he would ensure his MPs didn’t cross the floor should the ­matter come to a vote.

Katter’s Australian Party MPs slammed the government’s gag as ­unprecedented and a marker of the “death of democracy”.

KAP leader Robbie Katter warned that it was a slippery slope and showed the LNP was willing to deny debate on issues that they found ­uncomfortable.

His deputy Nick Dametto said that Queenslanders should be “mourning the death of democracy”.

The Leader of the Katter Australia Party Robbie Katter. Picture: NewsWire / Glenn Campbell

“Not only did this motion completely snuff out any debate on (abortion laws) on the conservative side of politics, but also anyone wanting to amend or fix the current ­legislation,” he said.

“There may be problems out there that women … (and) health professionals have identified … but this has been completely killed off today,” Mr Dametto said.

Mr Crisafulli, making his case for the motion, said he wanted to dispel the “US-style” politics that had overtaken the election campaign and dismissed Labor’s attacks as a scare campaign.

“This motion today ends the disgraceful campaign. Queens­landers said no to a US-style scare campaign, Queenslanders said no to politicising a sensitive issue, and Queensland has said no to the re-election of a very bad Labor government,” he said.

Deputy Opposition Leader Cameron Dick unleashed on Mr Crisafulli, saying he was treating the ­parliament as his plaything.

Cameron Dick has attacked the abortion decision. Picture: Steve Pohlner

“The Premier is a weak and frightened man who does not want to hear the voice of ­anyone that contradicts him, and that’s why he’s seeking to gag not just members of the LNP, not just members of the ALP, he’s seeking to gag every single member of the house,” Mr Dick said.

“He’s frightened of his own backbench, he’s frightened of what they’ll do, he’s frightened of what they’ll move, and that is a sign of absolute weakness,” Mr Dick said.

Australian Christian Lobby Queensland director Rob Norman said that Mr Crisafulli’s moves to ban debate was “undemocratic and ­compromises the parliamentary process”.

“Mr Crisafulli has set a very bad precedent for political parties to gag proper debate and silence the contest of ideas in parliament,” he said.

“Suppression of debate ­concerning the consequences of third trimester abortion is inhumane and reckless,” Mr Norman said.