Abortion in Queensland

The current legal framework was introduced by the Palaszczuk Labor Government with the passage of the Termination of Pregnancy Act by the Parliament of Queensland on 17 October 2018 in a conscience vote.

[16] This resulting "McGuire ruling" allowed abortion to protect a woman's physical or mental health, and was upheld on appeal by the Supreme Court of Queensland.

[11] In 1995 the McGuire ruling was followed by then-Justice Paul de Jersey in the Supreme Court case of Veivers v Connolly.

[17][18] In 2009 a Cairns couple was charged by Queensland Police under anti-abortion laws after imported mifepristone was found in their home.

[19][24] On 3 September 2009 the Criminal Code (Medical Amendment)[25] was passed by the Parliament of Queensland after a one-hour debate, with independent politician Liz Cunningham the only vote against.

Aside from expanding the scope of the section 282 exemption from criminal liability, the amendments also allow women to self-administer abortifacients in accordance with a prescription.

[31][32] The matter was referred to the Health, Communities, Disability Services and Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Committee, which also considered the termination of pregnancies in Queensland more broadly.

The bill left several policy issues unregulated, including gestational limits, the rights of conscientious objectors and "safe access zones" near abortion providers.

[37] Liberal National Party members of the Committee raised concerns that if the second bill passed while the first failed, it would create legal confusion by subjecting abortion to conflicting criminal and health laws.

[38] On 28 February 2017 Pyne withdrew both bills after the Liberal National Party of Queensland signalled that none of its members would vote for the proposed laws.

[44] On 22 August 2018 the Termination of Pregnancy Bill[45] was introduced to Parliament and referred to the Health, Communities, Disability Services and Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Committee for consideration.

[47] On 5 October 2018 the Committee's report was tabled, recommending that the law be passed and that all politicians be granted a conscience vote.

[56] On the cross-bench, Independent Sandy Bolton and Greens MP Michael Berkman supported the law while the Katter's Australian Party and Pauline Hanson's One Nation MPs opposed it.

[57] Political analysts noted the increased female representation in Parliament and in leadership roles across both major parties changed the debate compared to earlier discussions of abortion in the state.

[47] A number of groups in the state actively lobby on both sides of the abortion debate, with protests held by supporters and opponents of decriminalisation.

[70] Archbishop of Brisbane Mark Coleridge sent an email to Catholic school parents opposing the Termination of Pregnancy Act.