Crisafulli refuses to answer abortion questions in third day of dodging

LNP leader David Crisafulli, for the third consecutive day, has refused to give a clear answer on whether he would afford his LNP MPs a conscience vote on abortion or his stance on the issue.

Leader of the Opposition David Crisafulli. Picture: Liam Kidston.

Pro-choice and anti-abortion advocates alike are calling on Opposition Leader David Crisafulli to show “real leadership” and definitively reveal if LNP MPs will be granted a conscience vote on the matter should the party take government at the election.

It comes as Mr Crisafulli, for the third consecutive day, refused to give a clear answer on whether he would afford his LNP MPs a conscience vote on abortion — as they have previously on matters of life or death.

Queenslanders are also no closer to understanding Mr Crisafulli’s personal stance on abortion.

He is one of the only MPs to not give a speech on the floor of parliament when laws to decriminalise abortion were debated in 2018. He voted no.

Mr Crisafulli asserted on Wednesday — no less than 15 times — that changing Queenslanders access to abortion was not on the LNP’s agenda.

Leader of the Opposition David Crisafulli has dodged abortion questions for three days. Picture: Liam Kidston.

But he cannot control what laws crossbenchers put forward nor how his MPs vote unless he chooses to bar his party room from a conscience vote on the matter.

The Katter’s Australian Party has confirmed it will be putting forward laws to repeal abortion in the next parliament – in a direct challenge to Mr Crisafulli’s authority over his party room.

Mr Crisafulli, campaigning in Townsville, was asked about 39 questions on abortion -including his stance on the matter, whether LNP MPs would be given a conscience vote, and if he had spoken to his party room about the issue in recent days.

He refused to provide a definitive response and instead repeatedly said the issue was “not part of our plan”.

Mr Crisafulli did confirm he believed abortion was a healthcare matter.

But when asked if it was important for women to feel safe knowing they can access decriminalised abortion if they need it, Mr Crisafulli said “healthcare in every part of the state matters”.

Both pro-choice and pro-life advocates have now called on Mr Crisafulli to show “real leadership” and say whether he will afford his MPs a conscience vote on abortion when the Katter’s Australian Party make it a live issue on the floor of parliament.

Children by Choice chief executive Jill McKay said the time for “vague statements” from the LNP had passed and Mr Crisafulli’s reluctance to address the issue head-on only added to uncertainty.

“Crisafulli’s suggestion that abortion is ‘too sensitive’ to talk about is a distraction — it’s not about sensitivity for the LNP, it’s about political convenience,” she said.

“What’s truly sensitive are the deeply personal decisions women and pregnant people make about their pregnancies, which is exactly why we need to hear a categorical commitment from the LNP to protect their rights, now and into the future.”

The Katter Party will put forward laws to repeal abortion. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Australian Christian Lobby Queensland director Rob Norman said it was “vital” that Mr Crisafulli say if he is prepared to give LNP MPs a conscience vote.

“David Crisafulli must show some real leadership on Queensland’s extreme abortion laws,” Mr Norman said.

“Mr Crisafulli must speak to his policy on abortion and he must say if he is prepared to give a conscience vote to MPs, I think that is vital.

“It needs to be open and transparent and the people of Queensland deserve to know.”

LNP MPs including Tony Perrett (Gympie) and Jon Krause (Scenic Rim) have in recent weeks voiced anti-abortion views in candidate forums.

Mr Krause, in a live-streamed candidate forum on September 15 hosted by Harvest Point Church, said he saw “some issues with the current law”.

“(I) would certainly be part of bringing like-minded members to try and deal with those issues,” he said.

“It’s a conscience vote for all of our members when it comes to matters of life or death, and we need to ensure that there are enough people in the parliament to be able to repeal those laws or make significant amendments.”

All but two of the LNP’s current 35-member party room voted against decriminalising abortion in 2018.

A number of LNP candidates, including those in seats expected to fall from the hands of Labor, have also previously expressed strong views against abortion or Queensland’s existing laws.

Those candidates include Springwood’s Susanna Damianopoulos, who has written about protesting outside parliament with the word “Life” written on tape over her mouth, Amanda Stoker in Oodgeroo, Redcliffe’s Kerri-Anne Dooley and Rockhampton’s Donna Kirkland.

Ms Kirkland in 2019 shared a Facebook post which described abortion as the “greatest human rights abuse of our time”.

The LNP’s candidate in Stretton, former MP Freya Ostapovich, once conflated abortions with an increase in breast cancer.