Abortion set to be decriminalised in Queensland as LNP allows conscience vote

Laws to decriminalise abortion in Queensland are set to pass parliament after LNP members moved to give MPs a conscience vote when the government's bill is introduced to parliament.

The party held a special meeting this afternoon where members voted unanimously in support of the free vote.

Opposition leader Deb Frecklington issued a statement saying although she supports the free vote, she does not support the bill. 

"It has been a longstanding position of the LNP Party Room that matters about the creation or ending of life are treated as matters of conscience," she said.

"Personally, I have carefully considered the bill and I am not of a conscience to support it.

"I will be outlining the reasons why in the parliamentary debate."

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk had already granted Labor MPs a conscience vote because a small number of members don't support abortion.

The Queensland government had implored the opposition to allow its members to make a conscience vote on the bill, which is now expected to pass with the support of some LNP MPs.

The proposed bill would take abortion out of the criminal code and make it a health issue, allowing women to terminate pregnancies up to 22 weeks' gestation.

The laws would also enforce safe zones around clinics and medical facilities offering the procedure to stop staff and patients being harassed by anti-abortion activists.

Debate on the bill begins next week.

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