A rebel government MP has defended his decision to cross the Queensland Parliament floor, defying his party and pushing to change abortion laws. Source: ABC News.
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.
It implemented a gag on abortion debate in parliament shortly after coming into power.
On Tuesday, Mr Dalton voted for a motion to overturn that gag, moved by the Katter’s Australian Party, which ultimately failed without the support of the Government.
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.”
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.
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.”
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.
FULL STORY
Mackay MP who crossed floor to oppose LNP ban on abortion debate defends actions (By Alex Brewster, ABC News)
