There was an easy way for Queensland LNP leader David Crisafulli to avoid the world of pain he is now in over abortion.
Whatever people’s views on abortion, it is a fact that Queensland (like most other Australian states) has among the most radical laws in the world.
Abortion-to-birth is lawful, even when there is a healthy mother and healthy baby.
Sex-selection abortion – the practice by some ethnic groups of weeding out girl babies – is perfectly legal.
Very few people support these propositions but the fanatics in Labor and the Greens (and some in the LNP) see unfettered access to killing unborn babies at any stage of gestation for any reason as an article of faith.
Anything else is “limiting access” to what they euphemistically describe as “health care”.
Last October, instead of playing to the compassion and good sense of most Queenslanders, Crisafulli played to the radical left by pledging that if he was elected there would be no change.
He could have said abortion-to-birth is a bridge too far and that there should be an inquiry, which is what his predecessor Deb Frecklington had promised.
The radicals would have set their hair on fire for a day but most normal people would have agreed and the debate would have moved on.
The trouble for the radicals is that the more light that shines on abortion, the more its ugliness is exposed to the public.
Robbie Katter’s “Born Alive” bill to provide medical care to the babies who survive the abortion attempts on their lives has demonstrated this.
One Nation, which sadly supports euthanasia, is backing some reform of abortion laws in order to burnish some pro-life credentials.
Family First is of course pro-life from conception to natural death and has fielded 59 pro-life candidates at the election.
The LNP will say a vote for a minor party is a wasted vote. That is of course a lie.
A vote for Family First is a powerful vote because it sends a message that marriage, family, faith and life matters in politics.
If Family First is not elected, the voter’s number two vote passes to their candidate of choice and is of course counted, not wasted.
Here is how David Crisafulli has tide himself in knots over human rights for unborn babies:
Q: In the 2018 vote on Termination of Pregnancy Act, the LNP party room unanimously resolved to give members a conscience vote on the issue. Will you ensure that your members will be able to be given conscience votes on matters of life or death during your first term?
A: I’m not going to join the campaign conversation about this because I’ve made my position very clear, and my position is there will be no change.
Q: You can’t guarantee that, if your party resolves to have a conscience vote on matters of life and death.
A: I’m telling you today, that there will be no change.
Q: Well can you explain how?
A: I’m being upfront with you and telling you there will be no change, and that is as definitive as I can be… I’ve made my position very, very clear on this, very clear.
Q: How can you guarantee it?
A: I’ve made my position very clear, there will be no change, and I’m not going to join the campaign conversation on something that I have ruled out.
Q: What happens when the crossbench puts forward a private members motion on abortion?
A: I’ve never spoken about legislation to you before it’s centered, I never have. You know my position. You know what our plan is, that is not part of our position.
Q: The position in 2022 was that members of your party room will always have a conscience vote on matters of life or death. Is that still your position?
A: The issue you’re raising is not part of our plan, and I’m not going to join the campaign conversation.
Q: I’m asking if your position has changed from 2022 Mr Crisafulli.
A: My position is, I am not joining the campaign conversation that others are trying to have me talk about.
Q: It’s people in your own party that are talking about it Mr Crisafulli so I think it’s a fair question to ask, if your position from 2022 is still the same that members of your party room will be given a conscience vote on matters of life or death. Yes or no, are you still committed to that?
A: You know my position, that is not part of our plan, and there won’t be changes. And that is as definitive as you will find…it’s not part of our plan, and my team, we have a position, and Queenslanders need to know.
Q: Can you explain what’s not part of your plan? Is that a conscience vote?
A: Our plan involves the things we are talking about, including today, and changes in that area are not part of our plan.