Like the US, abortion is becoming a flash-point issue in Australian state politics, as opposition and minor political parties float the idea of restricting its access in Queensland and South Australia.

Two Queensland Liberal-National Party MPs have flagged support for changes to that state’s abortion laws if, as predicted, the party forms government after the October 26 state election.

Mark Robinson, who is retiring and being replaced by Amanda Stoker as the candidate for his seat of Oodgeroo, told a podcast in August that “there are no doubt corrections (to abortion laws) that will happen over time”, according to The Guardian.

Stoker has previously received criticism for her anti-abortion view during her time as the federal assistant minister for women and appearances at ‘pro-life’ rallies.

Opposition leader David Crisafulli said that abortion reform is “not a priority” for his government following Stoker’s preselection last year.

“If I say it’s not a priority, there’s not going to be changes,” he said.

“No changes for four years.”

He has, however, refused to confirm if MPs would be given a conscience vote — allowing them to break with the party’s position — if given the opportunity in an LNP-majority parliament after the election.

It was illegal in the state unless the doctor had a reasonable belief that a woman’s mental or physical health was at risk before December 2018, when the Palaszcuzk Labor government introduced legislation legalising procedures for the first 22 weeks of pregnancy, or with the approval of two doctors for later terminations.

Deputy leader Jarrod Bleijie and Queensland Opposition Leader David Crisafulli both voted against decriminalising abortion in 2018. Photo: AAP

The New Daily contacted the Queensland LNP and Katter’s Australian Party for comment on their abortion policies.

Flash-point

In South Australia, conservative LNP MPs are also pushing for abortion restrictions that the state Labor government has described as an “extreme right-wing culture war bill”.

A private members bill, proposed by Liberal MP Ben Hood, would require women seeking abortions after 27 weeks to instead undergo induced birth before the baby is adopted out.

Barbara Baird, an associate professor in women’s and gender studies at Flinders University, said that most Australians have enjoyed “reasonable access to abortion since the 1970s, particularly if they live in a capital city.”

“The importance of these bills is about creating a sense of panic, building momentum for the anti-abortion movement and bringing American-style politics here,” she said.

“If one bill passes, it does embolden anti-abortion campaigners at state and territory levels as well as federally.”

She said the movement draws heavily from the successful repeal of Roe v Wade in America, which allowed each state to determine the legality of abortion within its jurisdiction, but “it is not an election issue here in the way it is in the United States”.

“In the last 50 years there have been attempts by anti-abortion groups to threaten members of parliament with campaigning against them in elections, but I’m not sure it has ever made a difference,” she said.

“Something like 70 per cent of Australians are pretty straightforward and pro-choice, they support a woman’s right to choose.”

Impacts

The repeal of Roe v Wade has been highlighted by Vice Presidential candidate Tim Walz, who has spoken on the campaign trail about women who were unable to get abortions and died as a result.

Baird said that when abortion is restricted, people still seek out procedures anyway with “bad health consequences”.

“In the case of the Hood Bill, an abortion requested after 27 weeks and six days of pregnancy, they can represent those situations as an extreme and people who are vulnerable can be whipped up into a panic,” she said.

“We aren’t really worried about public opinion, a good solid majority of Australians support a woman’s right to access abortion later in pregnancy in consultation with their healthcare team.”