LOCAL Labor MPs supported the abortion laws passed in the Queensland Parliament on Wednesday night, while Oodgeroo MP Mark Robinson voted against.
The change means abortion will be legal in Queensland for the first time in 119 years.
Redlands MP Kim Richards said she had voted for archaic legislation to change.
“All women have the right to privacy, dignity and choice when it comes to her own body and they have a right to safe access to healthcare and wellbeing advice and services,” Ms Richards said.
“Decriminalising terminations will ensure that women are able to make good choices for themselves and get the advice they need to make the best decisions for them.
“It is an important step in seeking to eliminate the generations of shame and stigma associated with accessing terminations.”
Mr Robinson said residents who had written to him overwhelmingly called for laws not to be weakened.
“I didn’t ignore that local public outcry against Labor’s draconian late-term abortion-to-birth bill,” Mr Robinson said.
“It is disconcerting to me and many Redlanders that Labor’s new laws, passed by Labor MPs, mean healthy and viable unborn Queensland babies of 22 weeks can now be terminated on demand for any reason, no questions asked, and any doctor who tries to protect those babies will be breaking the law of the land.”
Labor MP Don Brown said voting against the bill was not going to stop abortions taking place.
“This is a health issue, not a criminal,” Mr Brown said.
“We need to keep this out of the courts and keep it between a woman and her doctor.
“Actually, history has shown abortions rates go down once it is legalised.”
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Springwood MP Mick de Brenni said Queensland’s laws were out of step with community expectations.
“Abortion is a health issue that should be legal, safe and rare, a position I’ve long been public and clear about,” Mr de Brenni said.
“I voted to deliver laws that would ensure that termination is treated as a health issue and not a criminal matter.”
Attorney General Yvette D’Ath said the laws would bring Queensland into the 21st Century.
“Termination is never an easy option for any woman, and no one ever makes this decision lightly, but all women across Queensland should have the right to make the decision for themselves and without fear of criminal prosecution,” Ms D’Ath said.
Queensland Health will roll out an implementation plan for health professionals.
This includes establishing a women’s helpline.
The legislation will start from December 3.
