Queensland abortion laws: Premier’s ‘no comment’ on abortion Bill vote

PREMIER Annastacia Palaszczuk has refused to reveal how she would vote on the decriminalisation of abortion Bill before State Parliament.

PREMIER Annastacia Palaszczuk has refused to reveal how she would vote on the decriminalisation of abortion Bill before State Parliament.

Ms Palaszczuk yesterday said it was unhelpful for anyone to put pressure on MPs ahead of next week’s parliamentary debate.

She made renewed calls for the debate to be “respectful” and said MPs should not have to declare how they would vote.

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“I expect a very high standard from every single Member of Parliament to be respectful,” she said.

“I will be voting on my conscience as well and I think everyone will see how I vote on the day.

“I think that the best way for individuals to make up their own minds is to think about the issues and to read the report from the Queensland Law Reform Commission.”

The Premier has previously indicated she supported the decriminalisation of abortion.

Her comments come after several government MPs previously called on LNP MPs to reveal their positions on the Bill.

Meanwhile, new polling has revealed LNP voters in the key electorates of Surfers Paradise and Currumbin overwhelmingly support the proposed laws.

In Surfers Paradise, more than 75.7 per cent of LNP voters and 75.5 of voters support making access to abortion legal in Queensland in line with Law Reform Commission recommendations.

In Currumbin, 61.1 per cent of LNP voters and 71.9 of voters support making access to abortion legal in Queensland in line with Law Reform Commission recommendations.

Released today, the results follow recent statewide polling showing 71 per cent of Queensland voters support decriminalisation of abortion.

Fair Agenda, the organisation who commissioned the poll, said the numbers were clear.

Executive director Renee Carr said with the numbers expected to be tight, Gold Coast MPs could hold the deciding votes.

“This polling makes it crystal clear they have the support of their electorate to vote Yes,” she said.

“This polling shows the majority of LNP voters do not support the party’s position up until this point: that current laws are sufficient and do not need to be changed.

“In fact, more than half of voters in both electorates would be less likely to support an MP that held to the LNP’s party position.”