Hundreds converge on Brisbane’s CBD demanding abortion rights after the topic was widely debated ahead of the Queensland election
Hundreds of protesters have taken to the streets of Brisbane to rally for abortion rights, after the topic was hotly debated ahead of the Queensland election.
The Keep Abortion Legal rally took place outside the old Treasury Casino in the city’s CBD on Friday evening, with as many as 500 demonstrators showing up.
Organisers said there was anger directed at the Liberal National Party over their stance on abortion.
LNP leader David Crisafulli became the Queensland Premier last Saturday at the state election, the first time in nine years Labor was defeated.
Mr Crisafulli had insisted there would be no changes to abortion laws if he was voted in as premier in the lead up to the election.
He did vote against a 2018 bill that dropped abortion from the Criminal Code and allowed women to undergo the procedure as late as 22 weeks of gestation.
Protesters in Brisbane on Friday night demanded the government keep abortion legal and make it free and accessible.
Demonstrators marched throughout the CBD starting at George Street before circling their way through the city and returning to Brisbane Square.
About 500 protesters showed up to support abortion rights in Brisbane after it became a contentious topic in the recent state election
The event was hosted by groups the National Union of Students and Children by Choice.
Speakers included Children by Choice CEO Jill McCay, a general practitioner and University of Queensland Union Women’s Officer Alyssa Roser, among others.
‘I think the feeling was just really anger and outrage at the Liberal government,’ rally chair, Ella Gutteridge told the Courier Mail.
‘I think their election means that there’s not a second to waste in getting organised to fight back.’
Ms Gutteridge said a ‘very diverse crowd’ showed up for the rally which shed light onto other issues such as the rights of First Nations people.
Abortion became a key point during the heated election between Mr Crisafulli and former Labor premier Steven Miles.
Mr Crisafulli was asked about the issue more than 130 times on the campaign trail and he repeatedly stated the LNP had no intention to alter abortion laws.
The firestorm started after Robbie Katter, who is state leader of Katter’s Australian Party, said he would introduce laws to repeal or amend abortion laws on October 8.
Mr Katter’s announcement paralysed the election and took away from Mr Crisafulli’s key promise to solve youth crime in the state.
Attendees gathered in Brisbane’s CBD and slowly marched around the city
