Abortion vote: Labor facts

The Greens are the only party that will always vote to protect reproductive rights.

During the 2018 debate on decriminalising abortion in Queensland, five Labor MPs voted with the LNP to make it harder to access abortion.1 

Of those five, one Labor MP voted to keep abortion a crime, and another declined to support decriminalisation, abstaining on the Bill instead, and four voted for LNP amendments to make it harder to access abortion.

The five Labor MPs were Joe Kelly (Greenslopes), Linus Power (Logan), Anthony Lynham (Stafford), Jim Madden (Ipswich West) and Jo-Ann Miller (Bundamba).

Joe Kelly: Labor MP for Greenslopes

Joe Kelly voted for an LNP amendment to the Termination of Pregnancy Bill 2018 that would have made it harder to access an abortion.2 

The amendment, introduced by the LNP's Mark McArdle on 17 October 2018, removed the duty of a “conscientious objector” medical practitioner, who does not perform abortions, to refer a person seeking an abortion to a provider who can perform one. Steven Miles said it would "impede women’s access to safe and reasonable health services".

As Health Minister, Steven Miles said:3

This amendment would impede women’s access to safe and reasonable health services... Nothing could be simpler than for a practitioner with a conscientious objection to inform the woman of their objection and refer the woman to the [women’s health] hotline. All they have to do is provide the woman with the number.

In my second reading speech I outlined the tragic consequences of doctors denying women the health care they need. This amendment is bad policy made against the independent consideration of the QLRC and the advice of doctors. 

Joe Kelly said: 

I support this amendment. I have given this matter great consideration. I find it extremely difficult to support legislation that forces a health practitioner to do something that is fundamentally against their conscience.

Joe Kelly then voted for the amendment, along with one other Labor MP Jim Madden and 12 LNP MPs. 

Linus Power: Labor MP for Logan

Labor MP Linus Power voted for LNP amendments that would have further limited women’s choice to have an abortion. 

The LNP’s Mark McArdle introduced amendments on 17 October 2018 that reduced the gestational limit in the Termination of Pregnancy Bill from 22 to 16 weeks. 

Now-Premier Steven Miles, who was then the Health Minister, said of this amendment:4

Changing the gestational limit to 16 weeks ignores the independent evidence based work of the QLRC. In particular, those amendments portray women who receive a poor or fatal foetal diagnosis later in pregnancy... 

Foetal abnormalities of this kind are usually diagnosed at the 18- to 21-week morphology ultrasound scan. The member for Caloundra’s amendment would mean that these women would have significantly less time to make their decision about whether to terminate. For women receiving the most serious diagnoses of structural anomalies in the brain, heart or spine of their foetus, a term limit of 16 weeks as proposed takes women’s very personal decision out of their hands. It would put them under additional pressure during an already stressful time. The 22-week limit gives a woman who has received a poor or fatal foetal diagnosis time to seek further testing and second opinions which can take days or even weeks.

Linus Power voted for the LNP’s amendment.

Linus Power then did not vote in support of decriminalising abortion in Queensland; in the final vote, he abstained on the bill as a whole. 

Anthony Lynham: former Labor MP for Stafford

Labor MP Anthony Lynham voted for LNP amendments that would have further limited women’s choice to have an abortion, by reducing the gestational limit in the Termination of Pregnancy Bill from 22 to 16 weeks5. 

Jim Madden: former Labor MP for Ipswich West

Labor MP Jim Madden voted for LNP amendments that would make it harder for women to access abortions, by:

  1. Removing the duty of a “conscientious objector” medical practitioner, who does not perform abortions, to refer a person seeking an abortion to a provider who can perform one6; and
  2. Reducing the gestational limit in the Termination of Pregnancy Bill from 22 to 16 weeks.7 

Jo-Ann Miller: former Labor MP for Bundamba 

Labor MP Jo-Ann Miller voted against decriminalising abortion in Queensland.8

Labor MPs could vote against abortion rights again

Premier Steven Miles has confirmed Labor MPs would again have a conscience vote on any future proposals to roll back abortion rights,9 including any Bill from the Katter's Australian Party (KAP).

Labor is also recommending preferences to the KAP in eight seats10, making it more likely the KAP will win more seats and introduce their bill. 

The Greens are the only party who have guaranteed every single one of their MPs will vote to protect abortion rights - every vote, every time. 

The Queensland Greens do not allow a conscience vote on abortion, which is a matter of fundamental human rights. 

The Queensland Greens plan for free, universal access to abortion and reproductive healthcare in Queensland includes:3

  • ensure every public hospital provides abortion care
  • expand bulk-billed and telehealth services for abortion care 
  • provide secular sex education and family planning information to all
  • expand rural maternity services
  • ban Labor’s practice of outsourcing public hospital funding to anti-choice private hospitals, like they did at Mater Springfield.11

Sources:
1  You can watch the debate here (start at 06:08:58).
2 Queensland Parliamentary transcript Hansard, 17 October 2018, page 2955-2957.
3 You can watch Steven Miles’ speech here (start at 06:07:03).
4 Queensland Parliamentary transcript Hansard, 17 October 2018, page 2950.
5 Queensland Parliamentary transcript Hansard, 17 October 2018, page 2950-51.
6 Queensland Parliamentary transcript Hansard, 17 October 2018, page 2955-2957.
7 Queensland Parliamentary transcript Hansard, 17 October 2018, page 2950-51.
8 Queensland Parliamentary transcript Hansard, 17 October 2018, page 2957.
9 ABC News, 9 October 2024.
10 The Guardian, 15 October 2024.
11 Labor has announced a plan to hand over $1 billion in taxpayers’ money to Mater to run a public hospital which will be prohibited under Mater’s own rules. See the Guardian and Labor’s media release announcing the plan.