CATHOLICS and others concerned about a push to decriminalise abortion in Queensland have been called on by a pro-life group spokesman to remain vigilant as the situation remains on “a knife edge”.
Australian Family Association (AFA) spokesman Luke McCormack said this was because the organisation had recently received confirmation “the Bligh Government’s determination to decriminalise abortion remains unchanged”.
Mr McCormack also criticised the methodology behind an opinion poll funded by pro-abortion lobby group GetUp! which claims 72 per cent of Queenslanders support the decriminalisation of abortion.
This compared with the recent Australian Family Association’s (AFA) Galaxy poll which showed only 48 per cent of Queensland voters were in favour of decriminalisation of abortion with 50 per cent against.
Mr McCormack said the AFA had contacted Premier Anna Bligh directly on her attitude to decriminalising abortion.
“We received a reply on November 24 from Attorney-General Cameron Dick on the premier’s behalf,” he said.
“The reply noted the premier had a number of times stated she would like to see abortion decriminalized in Queensland.”
The reply on behalf of the premier went on “(she) believes that decisions in relation to abortion are best made by a woman, … and her doctor and that these decisions are ultimately private matters.”
The correspondence from the attorney-general concluded that “any moves to change the current legislative provisions concerning abortion would have to be introduced as a Private Member’s Bill and be subject to a conscience vote. The premier does not believe there are sufficient numbers in the current Parliament to pass a Bill decriminalizing abortion.”
“Clearly then the situation in Queensland is on a knife edge,” Mr McCormack said.
“Reading between the lines of this response, the premier is saying: I want to decriminalise abortion. I will do it as soon as I’ve got the numbers. “It’s up to Catholics and other people opposing this law change to contact their local MP’s.”
The results of the recent GetUp! poll on the attitudes of the Queensland public to abortion were also cause for concern, Mr McCormack said.
“The GetUp! poll is flawed because it just skims the surface of the issue,” he said.
“The GetUp! opinion poll had only four questions.
“In contrast, a comprehensive 13-question Galaxy poll commissioned last month by the AFA after the Cairns trial (of Tegan Leach and Sergie Brennan) drilled down to find out what the Queensland public really believes about this complicated issue.” Mr McCormack said it was also “of interest to note that GetUp has not released its questionnaire so the objectivity of its survey cannot be determined, whereas the full questionnaire for the AFA poll is a matter of public record”.
The Galaxy research contained in the report What Queenslanders Really Think About Abortion (pictured) also indicated that MPs who voted to decriminalise abortion in the event of a private member’s bill being debated would face a potential swing of up to 12% against them at the next state election (26% swing against versus 14% swing towards).
Mr McCormack dismissed GetUp’s criticism of the Galaxy research as a “desperate attempt to mislead MPs on the true views of Queensland voters on this complex issue”.
“The Galaxy research was based on accurate and objective questions, which correctly informed respondents that 14,000 abortions are performed in Queensland each year and defined the law as it is currently interpreted by the courts,” he said.
The 51-page report on the Galaxy research can be found at www.family.org.au/qld/poll.
