A rebel government MP has defended his decision to cross the Queensland parliament floor, defying his party and pushing to change abortion laws.
The LNP’s Nigel Dalton, first-time member for Mackay, admitted he was naive to toe the party line, in a YouTube interview with a prominent anti-abortion campaigner.
Questions on abortion plagued the LNP’s 2024 election campaign, with then-opposition leader David Crisafulli assuring there would be no changes to the laws.
David Crisafulli implemented a ban on parliamentary debate on abortion laws following the LNP’s election win. (ABC News: Matt Roberts)
It implemented a gag on abortion debate in parliament shortly after coming into power.
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Speaking briefly to the media afterwards, he said it was a “deeply personal decision” but wouldn’t elaborate further.
Mr Dalton then sat down for an 11-minute interview on YouTube.
“My regret is I didn’t stand up earlier, and I ask God for forgiveness for that,” Mr Dalton said.
“I should have stood up in the campaign. I probably voted for the gag order, but that was naivety as well as not understanding parliamentary process.
“I’m not blaming anybody for that. That’s my fault.”
MP wants to ‘redeem himself’
Mr Dalton claimed he said he stood alongside other candidates in the election campaign, assuring there would be no changes to abortion laws.
“There probably won’t be any changes, but I didn’t believe that [at the time],” he said.
Nigel Dalton says he regrets not standing up earlier. (ABC News: Alex Brewster)
He said it was time to “redeem himself” in the “eyes of God”.
“That’s who I serve, I don’t serve anyone else. I obviously understand the leadership of the LNP. It’s going to be a difficult time for them to manage this.”
Did a minor party just make abortion an election issue?
He conceded many people in his seat would consider defying his party as “the worst decision” he had ever made.
“But I know that there are plenty of people in Mackay who’s going to say thank you, you stood up for what is right.”
Abortion was decriminalised in 2018 by the former Labor government.
At the time, Mr Crisafulli voted against it, with current Health Minister Tim Nicholls and Customer Services Minister Steve Minnikin two of just three LNP members voting for the change.
In state parliament, opposition leader Steven Miles tabled an email that Cherish Life, an anti-abortion organisation, said it received from Oodgeroo MP Amanda Stoker.
The email notes the government made a pre-election commitment it would not change abortion laws “in this term” .
“Cherish Life CEO Matt Cliff has said the member for Oodgeroo told him changes to abortion law could come next term. Is the member for Oodgeroo correct?” Mr Miles asked the premier in parliament.
“I said there’d be no change and there is no change,” Mr Crisafulli responded.