Premier Steven Miles forgets the name of another candidate

Queensland Premier Steven Miles has again forgotten the name of a Labor candidate while campaigning on the Sunshine Coast, while David Crisafulli has a trainwreck press conference over abortion.

Premier Steven Miles and Health Minister Shannon Fentiman hold a press conference at Birtinya Ambulance Station on the Sunshine Coast where they met Charli Fouhy - White top and Seamus Fouhy - Orange Top Baby . Pics Adam Head

Queensland Premier Steven Miles has again forgotten the name of a Labor candidate while campaigning on the Sunshine Coast, as opposition leader David Crisafulli has a trainwreck press conference in Rockhampton.

Making a health announcement at an ambulance station at Birtinya, with Health Minister Shannon Fentiman, Mr Miles was asked why his candidate for Kawana was not present.

He said: “I’ll be campaigning in Sunshine Coast all day, so stay tuned.”

The Premier was then asked what the name of the candidate was.

“That’s a good question, we’ll get that for you,” he said, and then shuffled the papers in front of him for about 11 seconds.

Mr Miles turned to Ms Fentiman for help, and she stepped out of the shot of cameras.

“We’ll be with them later,” he said.

The Labor candidate for safe LNP seat of Kawana is called Jim Dawson.

Last week, Mr Miles forgot the name of his Mirani candidate Susan Teder, despite visiting the central Queensland electorate twice in two days.

Premier Steven Miles and Health Minister Shannon Fentiman hold a press conference at Birtinya Ambulance Station on the Sunshine Coast. Picture: Adam Head

Health Minister Shannon Fentiman, announcing $20m in extra funding for women’s health on the Sunshine Coast, accused Mr Crisafulli of not being honest with voters.

“David, be honest with the women of Queensland,” Ms Fentiman said.

“David Crisafulli knows he cannot promise that abortion laws won’t be wound back, because the overwhelming majority of his members of parliament and his candidates have backward, extreme views when it comes to abortion.”

Ms Fentiman insisted the government’s termination of pregnancy services had been rolled out as fast as possible, despite the contract for wraparound services not being signed until recently.

Further north in Rockhampton, David Crisafulli has refused to answer questions about whether his Liberal National Party candidates have been ordered not to share their views on abortion.

Donna Kirkland LNP candidate for Rockhampton, and Leader of the Opposition David Crisafulli during a media conference at Our Space, Stockland Rockhampton Shopping Centre. Picture: Liam Kidston.

Mr Crisafulli appeared alongside his pro-life candidate Donna Kirkland, who in 2019 described abortion as “the greatest human rights abuse of our time”. She refused to be drawn on whether she still held that belief, instead repeating Mr Crisafulli’s comments: “It’s not part of our plan. We’ve ruled it out”.

Ms Kirkland was then unable to explain if changes to the Termination of Pregnancy Act had been ruled out, or a conscience vote on future legislation to restrict access to abortion.

“Questions have been asked, it is not part of our plan,” she said.

Asked if the issue of abortion had been raised by her constituents she said: “This is not a part of our plan”.

When asked if she believed abortion was healthcare Ms Kirkland said: “We have ruled out any conversation around that”.

After giving rehearsed answers to more than 10 question, Mr Crisafulli stepped in and told journalists: “You can ask me those questions. I think she has had a fair crack”.

Mr Crisafulli then, for a fifth consecutive day, refused to say whether his MPs would be given a conscience vote on legislation to restrict access to abortion in Queensland.

“There will be no changes to the law.”

He would not say whether LNP officials had briefed candidates and members to give identical answers to any question posed on abortion.

“My team is unified.

“The fact that we have as a team taken a decision that it’s not part of our planning, we’ve ruled it out, should give comfort to every person in Queensland that we are a unified team, and we are disciplined, and we are focused on the issues that matter to Queensland.”

Abortion resurfaced as a key election issue this week after MPs in two safe seats recently professed commitment to support legislation to restrict access to abortion.

In response, crossbencher Robbie Katter revealed his plans to immediately introduce legislation to overhaul abortion laws after the state election.