‘Ridiculous thing’: Far North LNP candidate Bree James fails to declare stance on abortion as fear over conscience vote looms

Far North voters are more concerned with crime, cost of living and housing than changes to abortion and voluntary assisted dying laws, the LNP’s candidate for Barron River Bree James says.

Far North voters are more concerned with crime, cost of living and housing than changes to abortion and voluntary assisted dying laws, the LNP’s candidate for Barron River Bree James says.

But the electorate’s incumbent says communities are entitled to know where their elected representatives stand on the issues, given Katter’s Australian Party’s plans to introduce legislation to overhaul state laws after the election.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli has repeatedly refused to declare whether he would allow a conscience vote on a bill to repeal abortion laws should he become Queensland’s next premier on October 26.

Katter’s Australian Party and One Nation have vowed to introduce laws to repeal or amend abortion laws. Member for Traeger and KAP leader, Robbie Katter. Picture: Nigel Hallett

The issue has since sparked division within the party’s ranks with at least two LNP candidates vowing to back “significant amendments” to the legislation.

At a press conference in Freshwater, Ms James dismissed concerns around a conscience vote, adding that she was more focused on winning the election first.

“The only votes I’m concentrating on right now are the votes at the booth that I’m missing out on because I’m here with you guys,” Ms James told the media.

“Getting the votes from the people of Barron River is my only priority right now.”

The frontrunner to win the bellwether seat was asked a further nine questions regarding the LNP’s stance on abortion and VAD but didn’t outline her stance on the matters, should a conscience vote arise after the election.

“You’re the only people asking me about these issues,” Ms James said.

“The locals are caring about crime, the cost of living, they care about the housing crisis, getting out of an ambulance and into a hospital.

“This was never spoken about to me in the nearly 13 months that I’ve been campaigning. It’s just a ridiculous thing that’s come up that no-one’s talking to me about except for the media.”

Asked if she would ask voters about abortion and VAD before the election, Ms James said it wouldn’t be necessary.

“I don’t need to ask them. It’s not about me asking them questions,” she said.

“It’s about me listening … all I’ve been doing is listening and the things that they talk to me about constantly is the housing crisis, the cost of living crisis, the crime crisis, the health crisis.”

Member for Barron River Craig Crawford and LNP candidate Bree James at the 2024 Meet the Candidates: State Election Forum lunch held last week in Cairns. Picture: Brendan Radke

With less than two weeks before the election, the LNP’s Far North candidates need to declare whether they supported changing the 2018 laws that removed abortion from the Criminal Code, Member for Barron River Craig Crawford said

“They’re going to have to make a decision because (Member for Traeger) Robbie Katter will bring a bill into Queensland Parliament and the LNP will have to make a decision on that bill,” Mr Crawford said.

“Labor has been very firm on this. We believe in a woman’s right to choose. That’s why we changed the laws. We believe they are the right laws and they’re fit for purpose for Queensland.

“Those laws are now at risk. Everyone should be concerned about that.”

Ms James said: “I will always stand for the people of Barron River on what matters to them and what their collective feelings are in regards to something.”

Scenic Rim MP Jon Krause and LNP frontbencher Tony Perrett have both publicly backed amending Queensland’s abortion laws.

Originally published as ‘Ridiculous thing’: Far North LNP candidate Bree James fails to declare stance on abortion as fear over conscience vote looms