Queensland MPs to vote on contentious bill to decriminalise abortion

Queensland’s push to decriminalise abortion has received a boost from the Liberal National opposition.

Queensland Leader of the Opposition Deb Frecklington speaks during Question Time at Parliament House in Brisbane. Picture: AAP

Queensland’s push to decriminalise abortion has received a boost from the Liberal National opposition, which has resolved to grant MPs a conscience vote on the contentious bill.

The “unanimous” decision was taken following a meeting of the LNP party room in Brisbane this afternoon.

“It has been a longstanding position of the LNP Party Room that matters about the creation or ending of life are treated as matters of conscience,” opposition leader Deb Frecklington said in a statement.

“Personally, I have carefully considered the Bill and I am not of a conscience to support it. I will be outlining the reasons why in the parliamentary debate.

“Once again, I call for a respectful debate on this deeply emotional and complex issue.”

The draft legislation would legalise abortion on request for women up to 22 weeks’ pregnant. After that, two doctors would need to agree that termination was appropriate given medical evidence and the woman’s “current and future physical, psychological and social circumstances”.

The law would also establish “safe access zones” to prevent protesters targeting women outside clinics, a version of which are currently under constitutional challenge in the High Court.

Medical professionals who conscientiously object to abortion would be required to refer a pregnant woman to a colleague who might perform a termination.

The Labor government commands 48 of the single-chamber parliament’s 93 seats. However, some Labor MPs are expected to abstain or vote against the bill, putting great influence in the hands of the LNP’s 39 members.

The six-member crossbench is expected to divide 4-2 against the proposal.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk earlier said it would be difficult to pass the legislation without support from some LNP members.

“It’s going to be very tough and it’s going to come down to the wire I think,” she said. “We just don’t know yet what everyone’s thinking is in relation to this bill.”

Queensland Parliament resumes on October 16.