Rebel Queensland MP Calls Abortion a Battle 'Against Demons'
Rebel Queensland Liberal National Party MP Nigel Dalton has urged his colleagues to "put on the full armour of God" and speak out against abortion, describing the issue as a battle "against demons" and "principalities". The Mackay MP made the comments in a YouTube interview with anti-abortion activist Dr Joanna Howe, following his decision to cross the floor this week in defiance of Premier David Crisafulli.
Dalton Seeks Redemption 'In Eyes of God' After Gag Order Vote
Dalton, a first-term MP, expressed deep regret over his initial vote alongside all other LNP MPs to impose a gag order on abortion debate in 2024. He attributed this decision to "naïveté" and a lack of understanding of the motion's implications. On Tuesday, he crossed the floor to support a motion by crossbench MP Robbie Katter that would have allowed parliament to overturn the gag order.
"I thought this is my time to redeem myself in the eyes of the public, say sorry, but also in the eyes of God," Dalton told Howe. "That's who I serve. I don't serve anybody else." He acknowledged that his actions would create "a difficult time" for LNP leadership but emphasized his faith-driven stance.
LNP's Abortion Position Under Scrutiny During Election Campaign
The LNP faced persistent questions about its abortion stance throughout the 2024 election campaign. The party maintained that there would "not be any changes" to legislation, stating it was "not part of our plan". However, several LNP MPs were quoted during the campaign promising changes to Queensland's abortion laws. Many members of the Crisafulli government had voted against the bill legalizing abortion in 2018, and others have expressed strong anti-abortion views.
Dalton revealed his long-standing involvement with anti-abortion activism, spanning "probably 30 odd years". He admitted to Howe: "My regret is that I didn't stand up earlier, OK, and I asked God for forgiveness for that I should have stood up in the campaign." He recalled standing at press conferences in Mackay alongside other now-government members, promising no changes to abortion laws while privately disagreeing.
Premier Downplays Floor Crossing as Personal Decision
Premier David Crisafulli downplayed Dalton's floor-crossing, emphasizing the government's unchanged position. "We took a position to the election, and that position remains. You know my position. There was a lot of talk about this for the election, and I said to you, there wouldn't be change. And I'd like to think that today reaffirms that overwhelmingly," Crisafulli stated on Tuesday.
Dalton, who is the first government member to cross the floor in several terms, described his decision as "deeply personal" during a brief press conference but declined to elaborate further. His defiance highlights ongoing tensions within the LNP over abortion policy, with Dalton framing the issue in starkly religious terms.
In his advice to fellow MPs feeling pressured to stay silent, Dalton urged spiritual fortitude: "The battle is not against people. It's against principalities. It's against demons. And you have to put on the full armour of God. You have to be sure in your faith, and the Lord will look after you." This rhetoric underscores the deeply ideological divide within Queensland politics regarding reproductive rights and party discipline.
