Queensland's government has ruled out any changes to the state's Termination of Pregnancy Act for the next four years, accusing Labor of running a "US-style scare campaign" during the October state election.
Premier David Crisafulli introduced the motion in parliament, which prohibits MPs from proposing or debating abortion laws. The action followed a contentious election campaign in which Labor claimed the Liberal National Party (LNP) would restrict abortion rights, which the LNP disputed.
Jarrod Bleijie, Deputy Premier, blasted Labor's methods, presenting personal anecdotes of his family being harassed as a result of the incident. "They want to continue their scare campaign... "My daughter is getting messages saying, 'This is what your Dad is doing,'" Bleijie explained.
Labor opposed the motion, with Opposition Leader Steven Miles describing it as a "gag" on parliament. "This proposal is an unprecedented and shady attempt to limit debate... It demonstrates a leader's inability to control or trust his party," Miles added.
Robbie Katter, the leader of the Katter Australian Party (KAP), expressed dismay after reigniting the abortion controversy during the election. "I'm at a loss for words after seeing the government's acts. "Removing the right to debate creates a dangerous precedent," Katter said, underlining his commitment to mandating treatment for newborns delivered alive.
Crisafulli supported the action, describing it as a rejection of political manipulation. "Labor wasted millions on despicable scare tactics. "I've been clear: there will be no changes to abortion laws," he stated.
The move solidifies Queensland's abortion restrictions until at least the next election, keeping the contentious topic off the legislative agenda.