ABORTION LAWS PASS

GOLD COAST MPs have been warned they could face political consequences for failing to back the Termination of Pregnancy bill passed in state parliament last night.

The bill – which decriminalises abortion and allows termination to 22 weeks – was endorsed by 50 votes to 41.

Eight of 10 Gold Coast MPs voted against the bill.

GOLD COAST MPs have been warned they could face political consequences for failing to back the Termination of Pregnancy bill passed in state parliament last night.

The bill – which decriminalises abortion and allows termination to 22 weeks – was endorsed by 50 votes to 41.

Eight of 10 Gold Coast MPs voted against the bill.

Liberal National Party members, Surfers Paradise MP John-Paul Langbroek, Broadwater MP David Crisafulli, Mermaid Beach MP Ray Stevens, Burleigh MP Michael Hart, Bonney MP Sam O’Connor, Mudgeeraba MP Ros Bates, Theodore MP Mark Boothman and Coomera MP Michael Crandon voted against it.

Labor member for Gaven Meaghan Scanlon and the LNP’s member for Currumbin Jann Stuckey voted for the bill.

Mr Hart, Mr O’Connor and Mr Bates told the Bulletin they didn’t vote against decriminalising abortion but against the Australian Labor Party’s “poorly thought out” bill.

Several of the Gold Coast MPs supported clauses proposed by LNP’s Mark McArdle, including one to reduce allowed termination from 22 weeks to 16.

Women’s group Fair Agenda has warned a vote against the passing of the bill goes against the opinion of the electorate, particularly in Surfers.

“Polling has shown that these Law Reform Commission-backed laws have the overwhelming support of the voters that Mr Langbroek is supposed to represent,” said executive director of Fair Agenda, Renee Carr.