Crisafulli’s surprise answer on abortion

The two men hoping to lead Queensland for the next four years have gone head to head for the final time before voters head to the polls in the state election.

Queensland Premier Steven Miles and Opposition Leader David Crisafulli will be hoping to sway undecided voters at the final leaders’ debate hosted by the Sky News/The Courier-Mail People’s Forum on Tuesday.

The audience of 100 undecided voters pressed the two leaders on everything from the quality of the Queensland Health system to crime and daylight saving and the 2032 Olympics to be held in Brisbane.

But it was again the issue of abortion which led to another tense exchange on the question of whether the legality of abortion in Queensland could be under threat if the LNP won Saturday’s election.

It became an issue when Katter’s Australian Party leader Robbie Katter said he would introduce a Bill to overturn the legislation that legalised abortion in Queensland.

On Tuesday Mr Katter stepped back that pledge, but it has become a hot issue during the election campaign.

Mr Miles has ruled out any changes to abortion laws.

Mr Crisafulli has consistently said the law “would not change” under the LNP, but at the same time would not say if he would allow a conscience vote.

He described the ongoing attack on him over the issue as a “scare campaign”.

“Your campaign has been silly because you know we’ve ruled it out. And women deserve better than the scare campaign has been run,” Mr Crisafulli said.

“I just want you to be sure there will be no change. And you need to hear that from me.”

But in a change from his recent downplaying of the issue, Mr Crisafulli emphatically answered “yes” when asked by Mr Miles if he supported a woman’s right to choose.

“Yes or no answer, do you believe in a woman’s right to choose?” Mr Miles asked.

“Yes. Didn’t expect that did you?”

Mr Miles was judged by the 100 voters in the audience to have won the debate, although

the LNP is expected to win Saturday’s election.

That would end Labor’s nine years in government. Mr Miles took over as Premier last December following the sudden resignation of Annastacia Palaszczuk.

Sky News Australia chief news anchor Kieran Gilbert hosted the one-hour forum in Brisbane.

Undecided voters were selected by YouGov to put questions directly to the two leaders in their final debate.

Each leader had a minute to provide opening statements.

Both men will then field questions from 100 undecided voters at the event, before having the opportunity to ask their opponent questions.

The leaders were given one minute each for their final pitch.