A pregnant Queensland Labor MP has spoken out in favour of decriminalising abortion in the state, telling state parliament it is up to women to decide what happens to their own bodies.
Labor MP Nikki Boyd told the house she had been sent "vile vitriol" by those opposed to abortion reform, which had only strengthened her resolve to see legislative changes passed.
Debate on abortion laws began in state parliament on Tuesday, with the entire three-day sitting week set aside for the issue.
The measures would see abortion removed from the criminal code and made a health issue, allowing women to terminate pregnancies up to 22 weeks' gestation.
"We must entrust women to make one of the most important health decisions that they will ever make," Ms Boyd said.
Terminations after 22 weeks would be allowed with the approval of two separate doctors.
Health Minister Steven Miles said the choice wasn't between abortion and no abortion, as around 14,000 terminations are already carried out in Queensland every year,
Instead it was about allowing women access to abortion with "privacy, respect and dignity", he said.
LNP Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington came out strongly against the laws, claiming they were an "ideological wedge" designed to split the state.
"I believe this bill has been flawed from the beginning," Ms Frecklington said.
Her deputy Tim Mander went further, calling abortion "nothing short of legal killing" and urging Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to rethink her support for the move.
LNP health spokesperson Ros Bates said she supported the decriminalisation of abortion, but believes the bill goes too far, specifically in the threshold for termination being set at 22 weeks, and therefore could not vote for the changes.
Both Labor and the LNP have granted their MPs a free vote on the issue, meaning at least a few LNP members would need to vote for the changes to see them passed.
Both the premier and her deputy Jackie Trad, who has been one of the strongest advocates for the changes, are yet to speak in the debate, which will continue on Wednesday.
Australian Associated Press
