Abortion in Queensland: LNP to vote against decriminalising abortion

THE LNP has confirmed it will vote against Bills to decriminalise abortion when they go before State Parliament this week.

Pro-choice supporters held a rally and marched under the banner of "Our Bodies, Our Lives, Our Choice" in support of the two bills before state parliament to decriminalise abortion in Queensland. The "Women’s Reproductive Rights March" continued from the esplanade to the Cairns Courthouse. Picture: Justin Brierty

THE LNP will vote against Bills to decriminalise abortion when they go before State Parliament this week.

Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls has revealed the partyroom voted this afternoon to oppose both Bills when they are due to be debated on Wednesday.

“Today, in the LNP Party Room, I offered all our MPs a conscience vote on the second of Rob Pyne’s Abortion Bills,” Mr Nicholls said.

Liberal National Party Queensland leader Tim Nicholls said the decision was “emotional”. Picture: AAP/Sarah Motherwell

“This issue is very emotional for all of us and we discussed it at length.

“What I can say is that after this discussion every single member of the LNP party room indicated that, in good conscience, they cannot support these Bills on Wednesday.

“The first Bill left the entire area of abortion unregulated and this was clearly untenable.

“The second Bill attempts to correct the failures of the first Bill but falls well short.”