Steven Miles launches abortion scare campaign despite LNP pledge to fund greater access

Premier Steven Miles and his frontbench have launched a scare campaign on abortion, accusing David Crisafulli of planning to cut termination services if the LNP wins the Queensland election.

Queensland Health Minister Shannon Fentiman and Premier Steven Miles at the Sunshine Coast University Hospital on Monday. Picture: Lachie Millard

Premier Steven Miles and his frontbench have launched a scare campaign on abortion in a last-ditch ploy to stay in power with the help of women voters, despite LNP leader David Crisafulli’s insistence he will not change laws and would continue funding Labor’s $42m abortion action plan.

In a move to target progressive voters and frame the election around abortion, as Vice-President Kamala Harris has done in the United States, Mr Miles and the union movement are ramping up attacks on Mr Crisafulli, claiming he has “plans to legislate control of women’s bodies” if the LNP prevails at the October 26 state election.

In a recent social media advertisement, Mr Miles said the LNP would cut “safe termination of pregnancy services for Queensland women no matter where they live”.

Mr Crisafulli, who voted against decriminalising abortion in 2018, has categorically ruled out making changes to the laws if elected and confirmed to The Australian this week that an LNP government would continue funding Labor’s $42m termination-of-pregnancy action plan.

The five-year funding package is being used to recruit more nurses to perform medical abortions and to establish a virtual termination-of-pregnancy service, to improve access for women in rural and remote areas.

Funding was announced in March after Queensland became the first state to give registered nurses and midwives powers to prescribe medical abortion pills.

The LNP voted against the legislation earlier this year, citing concerns from the Australian Medical Association Queensland that it could put patients at risk.

But in a statement to The Australian, Mr Crisafulli’s office said the LNP would not repeal the legislation if elected next month.

He also reaffirmed his commitment that abortion would remain available on demand up to 22 weeks’ gestation, with his spokeswoman insisting the “opposition’s position has not changed” from last year when it ruled out a legislative review.

The Queensland Council of Unions – which has registered as an official third party organisation for the state election, enabling it to spend $1m statewide – has launched its own “Fighting for Queenslanders” campaign, which claims “your right to choose is at risk” under an LNP government.

Federal Labor tried to weaponise abortion during the 2019 election when it campaigned hard on gender equality issues, but it backfired, with women favouring the ­Coalition by 38 per cent to 35 per cent in Newspoll analysis after the election.

Queensland Opposition Leader David Crisafulli. Picture: Liam Kidston

Queensland’s Termination of Pregnancy Act, passed in 2018, 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.

Three LNP members – Tim Nicholls, Jann Stuckey and Steve Minnikin – voted in favour of the legislation and then had their preselections threatened by the party’s former president, Gary Spence, for backing Labor’s laws in a conscience vote.

All Labor MPs voted in favour of the laws except former frontbencher Jo-Ann Miller who voted no, and Logan MP Linus Power who abstained.

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”.

Mr Crisafulli faced renewed pressure over the LNP’s stance on abortion after former senator and federal assistant minister Amanda Stoker, a pro-life supporter, was preselected to contest the bayside seat of Oodgeroo at the state election.

In state parliament last week, Health Minister Shannon Fentiman repeatedly took aim at Ms Stoker and the LNP’s position on abortion.

“You need only look at Amanda Stoker’s record on abortion to know what is in store for Queensland women and girls. This is someone who has said that she does not support late-term abortions for rape victims,” Ms Fentiman said.

In 2021, Ms Stoker told The Australian late-term terminations should be banned even in situations where the pregnancy had been caused by rape.

“I understand this can be divisive and difficult … but I have a very strong view that when it comes to later-term abortion that is something that is wrong, and it is something we shouldn’t provide for. Now I don’t think that’s a controversial position,” she said at the time.

Ms Stoker declined to comment when contacted by The Australian on Thursday, but after her preselection last October she said she was “completely focused on the (issues) that are making life hard for Queenslanders”, including cost of living, health and crime.

Labor backbencher Ali King, who is facing a tough fight to retain her marginal seat of Pumicestone next month, also used last week’s parliament sitting to launch attacks on the LNP claiming “women’s rights are also on the ballot paper this election”.

“The LNP leader – that invisible man – is hiding his plan for abortion rights from Queensland women. Those LNP blokes want to shame women. They want to strip our rights and control our bodies.”