Abortion Bill to contribute to our ‘culture of death’, says Fred Nile

A HIGH-profile NSW MP has begun lobbying Queensland MPs to vote against new laws to decriminalise abortion.

NEW South Wales upper house member the Reverend Fred Nile has begun lobbying Queensland MPs to vote against new laws to decriminalise abortion.

Mr Nile emailed a press release to Queensland MPs today.

“It is disappointing to think that late-term abortion would be legalised by such an extreme Bill, contributing to the culture of death in our nation,” he wrote.

“I am pleased that a similar Bill was defeated in NSW last year.

“Labor MPs will be allowed a conscience vote so I am hopeful that the Bill in Queensland will also be defeated.”

It comes just days after Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk confirmed new laws to remove abortion from Queensland’s criminal code would be introduced next month and debated in October.

It is just a taste of things to come for the state’s MPs.

Pro-choice and pro-life groups immediately started campaigning off the back of Ms Palaszczuk’s announcement.

Pro choice groups held a snap rally to back in the changes on Tuesday morning.

Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath has called for both sides of the debate to be respectful in their lobbying.

“I am concerned that individuals and organisations may seek to put pressure on members of parliament,” Ms D’Ath said.

“At the end of the day every single member of parliament is elected to represent their communities and are acting in the best interests of their communities and seeking to do the right thing by their communities.

“Now we may differ across the parliament on what our views are. We know on this issue, particularly, it is really important that we respect each and every member’s right to make their own decision on this.

“We know that people have very strong feelings on this issue but we must as a society be able to have this discussion in a respectful way because to do anything but engage in a respectful conversation does damage to everyone.”