Liberal Queensland Premier, David Crisafulli, has recently come under fire for moving a motion at the end of 2024 to prevent changes to Queensland’s Termination of Pregnancy Act. He has also stunted debate. The move is considered by many to be completely inappropriate and an action which indicates where Australia’s free speech rights are headed; straight into a kidney dish.
Banning debate is never a good sign, especially when it appears to ignore the implied right to freedom of communication guaranteed within Australia’s Constitution.
There is nothing ‘liberal’ about Crisafulli’s agenda on this matter. Censoring speech and pausing the ability to amend legislation demonstrates an ignorance of standard protocols within the governing chamber and is probably unprecedented.
Worse, if the leader of the state is intolerant to hearing alternative views, it sets the state up for the intolerance of people who hold different views on emotionally and morally complex subjects.
The purpose of debate and open political communication is to ensure legislation is properly scrutinised in a way which accurately reflects the voter base. Many people in the current era appear to disregard the utility of this process. Without debate and the space for rational discussion, even in regards to controversial topics, genuine problems are rarely solved.
Stunting debate is like stopping firefighters from accessing water in the middle of a blaze. If leaders do not understand the basic function of free speech in politics, then they frankly do not belong in politics. In Queensland, there is now a Parliament built for amending legislation that cannot do so.
Australia is not a dictatorship. While this move is legal, it is uncomfortable. The Constitution guides Australian politicians and the political process. It is not the other way around.
Politicians have been left gobsmacked by the unusual motion, including Robbie Katter, leader of Katter’s Australia Party, who stated: ‘I’m not sure if there’s precedent for being prevented from debating an issue in this house.’
What is especially ridiculous about Crisafulli’s motion is that he does it as a former journalist. Crisafulli has somehow mislaid the principles that underpin good journalism and politics with this shock motion, perhaps also forgetting that just because you have power does not mean it should be used.
Interestingly, Crisafulli has been fairly conservative with his views in the past, having voted in favour for Robbie Katter’s bill to ban trans women from playing in women’s sports in Queensland. He also opposed the Indigenous Voice to Parliament and the Termination of Pregnancy Bill 2018, which sought to decriminalise abortion. He opposed the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill of 2021 as well. In his 2024 election campaign he supported a ‘woman’s right to choose’.
Crisafulli is on an unusual arc as a Liberal politician. I am made uneasy by leaders who establish their agenda in this manner.
Politicians who have otherwise been ‘pro-life’ voted in favour for Crisafulli’s motion. This does nothing but emphasise why people are losing trust in several politicians within the major parties.
