Former LNP minister Jann Stuckey fears Crisafulli will overturn abortion, VAD laws

A former cabinet colleague of David Crisafulli fears Queensland’s LNP will overturn abortion and voluntary assisted dying laws if elected on October 26.

Jann Stuckey. Picture: Russell Shakespeare

A former cabinet colleague of David Crisafulli fears Queensland’s Liberal National Party will overturn abortion and voluntary assisted dying laws if elected on October 26.

Jann Stuckey, who served in cabinet during the one-term LNP Newman government and quit the party in 2020, said there were “growing concerns” her old party would amend VAD and abortion laws if elected, despite Mr Crisafulli’s insistence he would not.

The VAD advocate, who is battling recurrent pancreatic cancer, was one of only three LNP MPs who voted in favour of Queensland’s Termination of Pregnancy Act, passed in 2018.

“Crisafulli cannot categorically say termination and VAD laws will not be thrown out under his government in this term,” Ms Stuckey told The Australian.

“A captain’s call cannot stop agitation and action from MPs dead against this legislation, it’s his party room that will decide. Some may choose to put up a private member’s bill, as could the Katters or other independents.

“There is no consensus on this as it was a conscience vote and the majority voted against both pieces of legislation.”

Mr Crisafulli voted against decriminalising abortion in 2018 and against legalising VAD in 2021. He has categorically ruled out making changes to the Termination of Pregnancy Act if elected, and said overhauling euthanasia legislation was “not part of our plan”.

But Ms Stuckey believes the LNP leader will face “intense lobbying” to alter laws from pro-life candidates who are likely to retain or win seats at this month’s election.

“A large majority of the LNP frontbench voted against these laws and hold the numbers should a vote be cast from the floor of the party room in one of their meetings,” she said.

“It has always concerned me that a bunch of politicians can decide what is best for my body, whether it be a termination of pregnancy or VAD. They are personal choices and, like organ donation, wishes of the individual should be respected.

“Voters deserve the truth and weasel words without any weight just don’t cut it.”

LNP candidate for Springwood, Susanna Damianopoulos, has lobbied against abortion since at least 2008, but has said she “respects” Mr Crisafulli’s pledge not to overhaul laws for at least four years.

In 2021, the LNP’s Oodgeroo candidate, Amanda Stoker, told The Australian late-term terminations should be banned even in situations where the pregnancy had been caused by rape. She has said her focus was now on “the (issues) that are making life hard for Queenslanders”, including cost of living, health and crime.

Speaking about abortion at an event in Gympie last week, LNP frontbencher Tony Perrett said: “I oppose it. You just have to look at my record in the parliament and the speeches I have made. Very, very clear, I believe life is created at conception.”

Former MP Freya Ostapovitch, again contesting the southern Brisbane seat of Stretton, gained infamy during her one term in parliament for claiming abortion increased the risk of breast cancer.

Ms Stuckey retired from parliament in 2020 after serving 16 years as Currumbin MP.

She has been vocal about the “bullying and harassment” she suffered after voting with Labor, alongside then fellow LNP MPs Tim Nicholls and Steve Minnikin, to decriminalise abortion in a conscience vote,

The three MPs had their preselections threatened by the party’s former president, Gary Spence, as a result.

The Termination of Pregnancy laws removed abortion from the Criminal Code, allowed the procedure on request up to 22 weeks’ gestation and introduced safe access zones of 150 metres around clinics to protect women from harassment.

Ahead of the 2020 election campaign, former LNP leader Deb Frecklington promised to review parts of the Termination of Pregnancy Act, including “gestation limits, counselling arrangements and protections against abortion coercion”.

Despite ruling out changes this election, Mr Crisafulli has faced renewed pressure over the LNP’s stance on abortion and VAD, with Premier Steven Miles and the union movement ramping up its attacks, claiming the Opposition Leader has “plans to legislate control of women’s bodies”.

The majority of LNP MPs also voted against legalising VAD in a 2021 conscience vote, with 10 supporting the right to die including Mr Minnikin, Mr Nicholls, Brent Mickelberg, Michael Crandon, Michael Hart, Rob Molhoek, Ray Stevens, Mark Boothman, Dale Last and Sam O’Connor.