Newsroom

December 10, 2024

The Left are no longer the sole owner of totalitarian leftism!  The KAP Leader and Member for Traeger, Robbie Katter has said, in response to the unprecedented moves by the LNP government to gag debate by blocking introduction of bills into parliament.

Speaker, Pat Wier has been tasked with ruling out of order any Bill, motion, or amendment that seeks to change or discuss the Termination of Pregnancy Act.

“The parliament that was once the contest of ideas has made the slow turn down the path of the thought police controlling what we can and can’t bring up in the parliament for the people,” the KAP leader has said.

“I’m almost lost for words, that this Government has the gall to gag their own backbenchers, and indeed any pro-life Queenslanders.

“The people of Queensland need to hear both sides of the argument and be given the respect to choose where to cast their votes and give their support.

“Abortion today, but what uncomfortable topic is next?  Will the LNP be uncomfortable with our push for tree clearing reform?  Reef restrictions that kill farming?  I guess everything is on the table now for banning things being discussed in parliament?” Mr Katter said.

Hinchinbrook MP and KAP Deputy Leader Nick Dametto said that Queenslanders should be mourning the death of democracy in their State Parliament.

"Not only does this motion completely snuff out any debate on the Termination of Pregnancy Act 2018 from the conservative side of politics, but it also prevents anyone wanting to amend or alter the current legislation in any way," Mr Dametto said.

"If problems are identified in the current legislation by anyone other than the LNP government, a private members bill cannot be introduced to rectify it.

"At no point in the next four years can we debate or amend this legislation to improve women's rights or represent the babies that are born alive as a result of a termination of pregnancy procedure,” Mr Dametto said.

The Member for Hill this afternoon said he was gobsmacked.

“In my 20 years in parliament I have never seen anything like it,” Mr Knuth said.

“The Newman Government took a very combative approach when in power, but at least we had the opportunity to present private members bills and put forward alternative opinions for debate.  That's what democracy is all about,” the Member for Hill said.

“Today’s afront to democracy is a scary precedent and it seems to be a race to the bottom in Queensland politics.  We at the KAP stand firmly against this and will test the legitimacy of this motion,” Mr Katter said.