Qld election campaign: Premier Steven Miles demands all MPs, candidates reveal abortion stance

Premier Steven Miles has declared the LNP was lying about their intention to change abortion laws in order to win the election and has launched a campaign against the party. VOTE IN OUR POLL

Premier Steven Miles at a pre-polling booth at the Cairns Showgrounds today. Picture: Adam Head

Labor has launched a major crusade against the LNP demanding all MPs and candidates reveal their stance on abortion to Queensland voters.

It comes as pro-life LNP candidate Freya Ostapovitch, who declared she wanted abortion laws changed, is committed to the party’s promise not to amend the rules Opposition Leader David Crisafulli has declared.

While a different LNP candidate — Marty Hunt in Nicklin — is refusing to reveal if his views on abortion had changed after once being described by a pro-life lobby group as one of their “best advocates”.

Abortion flared up as an election issue last week after LNP MPs including Tony Perrett (Gympie) and Jon Krause (Scenic Rim) in recent weeks voiced anti-abortion views in candidate forums.

Mr Crisafulli has since been asked more than 130 questions on the abortion, including if he will break with convention and deny his party room a conscience vote on matters of life or death should changes be floated in parliament by crossbenchers.

He has repeatedly asserted there will be no change to Queensland’s laws — including on Monday when he gave a personal guarantee.

“I guarantee it, because my team backs this and there’ll be no change,” he said.

The issued has reared its head again after the LNP’s self-described pro-life candidate in Stretton Freya Ostapovitch said she wanted abortion laws changed but “can’t say anything” until after the party wins the state election.

Ms Ostapovitch made the comments at an early voting booth this week, in a conversation recorded by a Labor branch member and published first in The Australian.

“You vote for me, you trust me, I can’t say anything yet because we have got to get elected before we do anything,” she said.

“I am on the record, I am pro-life. This babies born alive stuff, it just breaks my heart.”

She then again conflated abortions with an increase in breast cancer, a claim she made in parliament in 2014 when she was a one-term MP in the Newman government.

Mr Crisafulli, campaigning on the Sunshine Coast, said Ms Ostapovitch was “committed” to the LNP’s pledge of no change to abortion laws.

Freya Ostapovitch member for Stretton. – Photo Supplied

“I want Queenslanders to know that is the position of our team, there will be no change to the abortion Act,” he said.

“The position of my team is there will be no change to abortion laws in Queensland. No wriggle room.”

Premier Steven Miles, flanked by Deputy Premier Cameron Dick, Tourism Minister Michael Healy, Barron River MP Craig Crawford and Mulgrave candidate Richie Bates, declared the LNP was lying about their intention to change abortion laws in order to win the election.

“This is what LNP candidates and MPs are telling people right across the state,” he said.

“I’m really worried that Queenslanders could vote on Election Day believing David

Crisafulli’s promise that nothing will change when it comes to women’s reproductive rights.

“I know he’s lying, you know he’s lying.

“He is lying to get through the elections.”

Mr Hunt, who is on track to win back the seat of Nicklin from Labor, refused to say what his personal views were on abortion and if they had changed since choosing to vote against decriminalising abortion in 2018.

When he lost the 2020 election anti-abortion lobby group Cherish Life, in a social media post, said it was a “sad day”.

“Queensland lost one of their best advocates for life and pro-abortion,” the group noted.

“Hopefully he’ll win the seat back in four years”.

Mr Hunt said he didn’t have “any affiliations” with Cherish Life “whatsoever”.

“I’m proud to stand with the team and make the commitment that the team made, that there (will be) no changes to the abortion laws,” he said.

Katter’s Australian Party and One Nation has vowed to introduce laws to repeal or amend current abortion laws.

“There will be a repeal bill to vote on in the next parliament put forward by the KAP,” Robbie Katter confirmed.

The Premier visited a pre-polling booth in Cairns on Friday, where journalists put questions to LNP candidate Yolonde Entsch.

LNP candidate for Cairns Yolonde Entsch. Picture: Brendan Radke

Ms Entsch was caught off guard when asked to share her position on abortion, refusing to reveal her opinion.

“There will be, we’re sticking to our plan,” she said, before correcting her statement to, “it’s not part of our plan”.

Asked again to explain her views on abortion, Ms Entsch repeated “it’s not part of our plan”.

Mr Crawford on Friday said voters had the right to know how their representative intended to vote on termination of pregnancy laws when Parliament returns.

“It’s a very, very simple question, Rob Katter can answer that question, every single political candidate and member of parliament should be able to answer what their personal views are,” he said.

Donna Kirkland LNP candidate for Rockhampton, and Leader of the Opposition David Crisafulli when grilled on abortion. Picture: Liam Kidston.

“Every single person who will be in the next parliament will have to vote on a bill to do with reproductive rights … you have to vote yes or no, you don’t get a choice.

“The public up here deserve the right to know where all of our local LNP candidates stand on these very important subjects.”

Mr Dick called Ms Ostapovitch’s words “true and chilling”.

“Freya Ostapovitch was a member of parliament with David Crisafulli in the “Newman government, she knows what the LNP does when they get their hands on the leavers of power in this state,” he said.

Mr Miles dodged questions on whether the issue of abortion would help him in the polls.

“I’m not worried about the polls,” he said.

“I’m worried about the rights of Queenslanders.”

Originally published as Qld election campaign: Premier Steven Miles demands all MPs, candidates reveal abortion stance