Qld election 2024: Toowoomba, Lockyer Valley MPs David Janetzki, Trevor Watts, Pat Weir, Jim McDonald questioned over changes to abortion laws

MPs in Queensland’s “Bible Belt” have been grilled about concerns that changes to abortion laws could be on the cards if the LNP wins power on October 26. Read their responses here:

 

Women’s healthcare advocates believe changes to abortion legislation could become a reality if the LNP wins government at the state election, despite efforts by MPs in conservative seats to hose down concerns about the issue.

Toowoomba and Lockyer Valley LNP members David Janetzki, Trevor Watts, Pat Weir and Jim McDonald have all promised that abortion laws will not be appealled or amended if their party wins the State Election later this month.

All four men voted against the 2018 law along with now-opposition leader David Crisafulli, who was grilled by journalists this week over whether he’d allow a conscience vote if a private member’s bill was introduced — something he would not be drawn on.

The Darling Downs and Lockyer Valley is considered Queensland’s “Bible Belt” and has some of state’s most conservative electorates.

Children By Choice chief executive Jill McKay, whose organisation advocates for expanding access to abortion healthcare services, said although Mr Crisafulli, Mr Janetzki, Mr Watts, Mr Weir and Mr McDonald have vowed to protect the current abortion laws if they win the Queensland Election, she said voters would need more assurance.

Jim McDonald; Pat Weir; David Janetzki; Trevor Watts.

“What is concerning though is the Katter Party said they’d like to make changes and if that was to go to a vote, if the LNP formed government, there’s a concern it would go to a conscience vote,” she said.

“We just need to know beforehand that the party does not support a diminishment of abortion access.

“When the LNP took it to the conscience vote in 2018, only three out of all of their members voted to support abortion access.”

Mr Janetzki, the opposition treasury spokesman, said abortion reform was “not part of our plan, and there won’t be changes”.

Mr Watts, who is hoping to win a fifth term in Toowoomba North, said he agreed with Mr Crisafulli’s view that the matter was settled and that the state’s current abortion rights would be protected by the LNP.

“The leader has made the position very clear and I’d refer you to the leader’s statement on these matters,” he said.

“He’s running to be premier and he will guide the entire party room.”

Condamine MP Mr Weir, who held his launch at the Toowoomba Showgrounds on Tuesday, said the party had “moved on” from the issue, while Lockyer MP Mr McDonald said there were “no plans” to repeal abortion legislation.

But their former colleague and one-term LNP minister Jann Stuckey told The Australian this week she held significant fears the party would overturn both abortion and voluntary assisted dying laws if it won government on October 26.

Katter’s Australia Party leader Robbie Katter inflamed the situation further by saying he would introduce a private member’s bill to change or repeal abortion legislation, something that would force Mr Crisafulli to consider breaking party conventions and deny a conscience vote.

On the other side of the issue, pro-life advocates are gearing up pressure the LNP at the state election, most notably newly-reformed Family First.

Lyle Shelton. Picture Glenn Hampson

Former Toowoomba councillor and Family First national director Lyle Shelton, whose party is running in all four local seats, said the LNP had made a rod for its own back by failing to address the issue.

“It’s deeply disappointing that David Crisafulli made a captain’s call to not even look at the issue of late-term abortions,” he said.

“The idea that Crisafulli wouldn’t even look at this — I don’t think he’d be in trouble he is in if he had, (so) he’s tied himself in knots.

“He can’t guarantee anything, and there are a lot of pro-life people in the party room.

“I know those guys (Janetzki, Watts, Weir and McDonald) to be good people who are pro-life, but it’s not good enough to be quiet about pro-life.

“There is a dark and ugly side to this issue.”

The content summaries were created with the assistance of AI technology, then edited and approved for publication by an editor.