Katter attempt to dodge ban and debate abortion access shot down by Qld government

Robbie Katter has raised the spectre of debate on Queensland's abortion laws. (AAP: Darren England)

An attempt by state MP Robbie Katter to dodge a parliamentary ban on abortion debate has been defeated by 85 votes to 2, with the two votes coming from two KAP MPs.

Mr Katter claimed changes to the Medicines and Poisons (Medicines) Amendment Regulation 2026 changed access to abortion medication.

Premier David Crisafulli implemented a ban on debate on the Termination of Pregnancy Act and other motions allowing MPs to express their views on the subject after winning government.

An attempt by Katter's Australian Party (KAP) to dodge a debate ban and revive abortion access discussion has been shot down in state parliament.

The subject became an issue ahead of the last Queensland election in October 2024, when KAP pledged to introduce legislation to repeal abortion laws after the poll.

After winning government, Premier David Crisafulli banned MPs from amending the Termination of Pregnancy Act or debating any motion that allowed the parliament to express a view on the law over the LNP's first term.

Before the debate began on Mr Katter's disallowance motion, Deputy Speaker Jon Krause warned members the motion was not allowed to be used as a "Trojan horse" for other matters.

"Members who ignore this caution will be warned once to get to the topic and then be sat down," Mr Krause said.

Mr Crisafulli implemented a moratorium on abortion debate after winning the 2024 state election. (ABC News: Luke Bowden)

Mr Katter's disallowance motion pertained to Clause 5 of the Medicines and Poisons (Medicines) Amendment Regulation 2026 rather than the Termination of Pregnancy Act — in effect dodging Mr Crisafulli's debate ban.

The regulation pertains to the accessibility of abortion drugs mifepristone and misoprostol, which are sold in Australia as MS-2 Step and can currently be prescribed by approved healthcare providers to safely end pregnancy up to the nine-week mark.

The government's proposed changes to the regulation only expand on who can administer vaccination and does not include any changes to access to abortion medication.

During the debate, KAP's state leader, Rob Katter, claimed changes to a clause of the Medicines and Poisons (Medicines) Amendment Regulation 2026 impacted specific training requirements for staff prescribing the medication.

Robbie Katter says government changes to regulations made access to abortion drugs easier. (ABC News)

He said he wanted to exercise his right to draw debate back to the legislation, "notwithstanding the constraints