Kids Rights: Your MP’s record

On Election Day, you will be asked to choose the candidate you think will best represent you and your community. As you make up your mind, it is worth checking your MP’s record on important conscience votes.

Conscience votes are when a member of parliament is not bound to vote a certain way by their party. They are free to vote according to their own conscience.

Conscience votes provide us with an important opportunity to glimpse the values that underpin a member of parliament's decision-making process.

There were two conscience votes in the last Queensland parliament.

Surrogacy

In 2009 a bill was introduced to legalise surrogacy in Queensland.

Many Christians opposed the legislation because it allowed singles and same-sex couples to acquire babies – denying these children the right to be raised by both their mother and father.

Surrogacy also raises a number of ethical questions about IVF, the health of the birth mother and the parentage of the child.

Not every child can be raised by their biological parents. Children get separated from their parents often through tragedy or desertion. However, as a society, we should defend the right of children to know and be raised by their biological parents wherever possible.

The Liberal National Party voted as one to oppose the government’s legislation. Instead they put forward a bill to limit surrogacy to married couples and heterosexual de facto couples who had been together for two years.

Labor granted its members a conscience vote. Only two Labor MPs opposed the bill. Margaret Keech and Michael Choi. None of the independents voted for the bill. Some members abstained from voting on the bill.

ACL has published the speeches of those MPs who did support the surrogacy bill on the Queensland Votes website. Many of them show a clear disregard for values held dear by many people, particularly Christians.

What’s at stake here is the right of a child to grow up knowing their biological mother and father. Deliberately creating a situation where a child is denied their mother and father is something a civil society should never do.

Same-sex civil partnerships

Last year, the Deputy Premier, Andrew Fraser introduced a bill to legalise same-sex civil partnerships in Queensland. These same-sex civil partnerships are designed specifically to mimic marriage.

They will further undermine the special place of marriage in our society and bring us one step closer to legalising homosexual marriage.

Just like the surrogacy bill, the LNP voted as one in opposing civil partnerships. Labor MPs had a conscience vote. Margaret Keech, Michael Choi and Geoff Willson were the only Labor MPs to vote against this bill.

No doubt many factors that will influence your vote at this important election. Take some time however to check out your MPs voting record on these landmark decisions.

First name	Surname	Party	Electorate	Supported single and same-sex surrogacy?	Surrogacy Speech	Civil Partnerships
Ros	Bates	LNP	Mudgeeraba	Opposed single and same-sex surrogacy		Opposed civil partnerships
Jarrod	Bleijie	LNP	Kawana	Opposed single and same-sex surrogacy		Opposed civil partnerships
Anna	Bligh	ALP	South Brisbane	Supported single and same-sex surrogacy	“I do not think there is any sound basis for ruling out people on the basis of their particular relationship circumstances.” Read the full speech	Supported civil partnerships
Michael	Choi	ALP	Capalaba	Opposed single and same-sex surrogacy		Opposed civil partnerships
Michael	Crandon	LNP	Coomera	Opposed single and same-sex surrogacy		Opposed civil partnerships
Andrew	Cripps	LNP	Hinchinbrook	Opposed single and same-sex surrogacy		Opposed civil partnerships
Peta-Kaye	Croft	ALP	Broadwater	Supported single and same-sex surrogacy	“A same sex couple having a child does not harm anyone.” Read the full speech	Supported civil partnerships
Liz	Cunningham	IND	Gladstone	Opposed single and same-sex surrogacy		Opposed civil partnerships
Vicky	Darling	ALP	Sandgate	Supported single and same-sex surrogacy	“I would argue that judging suitability to be a parent is not something within the power of this parliament.” Read the full speech	Supported civil partnerships
Tracy	Davis	LNP	Aspley	Opposed single and same-sex surrogacy		Opposed civil partnerships
Jack	Dempsey	LNP	Bundaberg	Opposed single and same-sex surrogacy		Opposed civil partnerships
Cameron	Dick	ALP	Greenslopes	Supported single and same-sex surrogacy	“There are no restrictions upon the use of genetic material used in conception of the child. Nor does the government consider it appropriate to impose restrictions based on marital status, gender, sexual orientation or methods of conception.” Read speech #1 Read speech #2	Supported civil partnerships
Steve	Dickson	LNP	Buderim	Opposed single and same-sex surrogacy		Opposed civil partnerships
Alex	Douglas	LNP	Gaven	Opposed single and same-sex surrogacy		Opposed civil partnerships
Peter	Dowling	LNP	Redlands	Opposed single and same-sex surrogacy		Opposed civil partnerships
Glen	Elmes	LNP	Noosa	Opposed single and same-sex surrogacy		Opposed civil partnerships
Scott	Emerson	LNP	Indooroopilly	Opposed single and same-sex surrogacy		Opposed civil partnerships
Di	Farmer	ALP	Bulimba	Supported single and same-sex surrogacy	“I am clear on what my role is not, and it is not to be an arbiter on the moral and philosophical polarities” Read the full speech	Supported civil partnerships
Simon	Finn	ALP	Yeerongpilly	Supported single and same-sex surrogacy		Supported civil partnerships
Bruce	Flegg	LNP	Moggill	Opposed single and same-sex surrogacy		Opposed civil partnerships
Chris	Foley	IND	Maryborough	Opposed single and same-sex surrogacy		Opposed civil partnerships
Andrew	Fraser	ALP	Mount Coot-tha	Supported single and same-sex surrogacy	“The shocking revelation that must be delivered to the moralisers opposite is this: you can no more command the tide than stop the birth of children in the circumstances contemplated by this bill.” Read the full speech	Supported civil partnerships
David	Gibson	LNP	Gympie	Opposed single and same-sex surrogacy		Opposed civil partnerships
Grace	Grace	ALP	Brisbane Central	Supported single and same-sex surrogacy	“Attitudes must change in my view just like attitudes have changed towards single mums, adoptions and, yes, even same sex couples.” Read the full speech	Supported civil partnerships
Stirling	Hinchliffe	ALP	Stafford	Supported single and same-sex surrogacy		Supported civil partnerships
Howard	Hobbs	LNP	Warrego	Did not vote		Opposed civil partnerships
Paul	Hoolihan	ALP	Keppel	Supported single and same-sex surrogacy	“...in many cases the worst parenting comes from the accepted family grouping of husband and wife.” Read the full speech	Supported civil partnerships
Ray	Hopper	LNP	Condamine	Opposed single and same-sex surrogacy		Opposed civil partnerships
Jan	Jarratt	ALP	Whitsunday	Supported single and same-sex surrogacy	“I rise to support the government’s Surrogacy Bill 2009 and in doing so place on record my pride in being part of bringing to the House a piece of legislation that recognises the realities of family life in the 21st century” Read the full speech	Supported civil partnerships
Vaughan	Johnson	LNP	Gregory	Opposed single and same-sex surrogacy		Opposed civil partnerships
Mandy	Johnstone	ALP	Townsville	Supported single and same-sex surrogacy	“It is not the ground on which to debate the religious or moral high ground.” Read the full speech	Supported civil partnerships
Kate	Jones	ALP	Ashgrove	Did not vote		Supported civil partnerships
Margaret	Keech	ALP	Albert	Opposed single and same-sex surrogacy		Opposed civil partnerships
Betty	Kiernan	ALP	Mount Isa	Supported single and same-sex surrogacy		Supported civil partnerships
Steve	Kilburn	ALP	Chatsworth	Supported single and same-sex surrogacy	“This idea that because it is a heterosexual relationship the kids are going to grow up fine and dandy is ridiculous. Read the full speech	Supported civil partnerships
Shane	Knuth	KAP	Dalrymple	Did not vote		Opposed civil partnerships
John-Paul	Langbroek	LNP	Surfers Paradise	Opposed single and same-sex surrogacy		Opposed civil partnerships
Peter	Lawlor	ALP	Southport	Supported single and same-sex surrogacy		Supported civil partnerships
Ted	Malone	LNP	Mirani	Did not vote		Opposed civil partnerships
Mark	McArdle	LNP	Caloundra	Opposed single and same-sex surrogacy		Opposed civil partnerships
Aidan	McLindon	KAP	Beaudesert	Opposed single and same-sex surrogacy		Opposed civil partnerships
Rosemary	Menkens	LNP	Burdekin	Did not vote		Opposed civil partnerships
Rob	Messenger	IND	Burnett	Opposed single and same-sex surrogacy		Absent from Parliament
Jo-Ann	Miller	ALP	Bundamba	Supported single and same-sex surrogacy		Opposed civil partnerships
Evan	Moorhead	ALP	Waterford	Supported single and same-sex surrogacy	“...there are many heterosexual couples who are known to be dysfunctional in their parenting skills and are well known to the Department of Child Safety.” Read the full speech	Supported civil partnerships
Tim	Mulherin	ALP	Mackay	Supported single and same-sex surrogacy		Supported civil partnerships
Tim	Nicholls	LNP	Clayfield	Opposed single and same-sex surrogacy		Opposed civil partnerships
Rachel	Nolan	ALP	Ipswich	Supported single and same-sex surrogacy		Supported civil partnerships
Jason	O’Brien	ALP	Cook	Supported single and same-sex surrogacy		Supported civil partnerships
Mary-Anne	O’Neill	ALP	Kallangur	Supported single and same-sex surrogacy		Supported civil partnerships
Annastacia	Palaszczuk	ALP	Inala	Supported single and same-sex surrogacy	“Some members opposite have expressed rigid and outdated views about what constitutes a family in the modern day.” Read the full speech	Supported civil partnerships
Curtis	Pitt	ALP	Mulgrave	Supported single and same-sex surrogacy		Supported civil partnerships
Andrew	Powell	LNP	Glass House	Opposed single and same-sex surrogacy		Opposed civil partnerships
Phil	Reeves	ALP	Mansfield	Supported single and same-sex surrogacy		Supported civil partnerships
Ian	Rickuss	LNP	Lockyer	Opposed single and same-sex surrogacy		Opposed civil partnerships
Mark	Robinson	LNP	Cleveland	Opposed single and same-sex surrogacy		Opposed civil partnerships
Mark	Ryan	ALP	Morayfield	Supported single and same-sex surrogacy	“My vision for Queensland is that together we can continue to build open, tolerant, supportive, understanding and compassionate communities where we together promote a normalisation agenda...” Read the full speech	Supported civil partnerships
Desley	Scott	ALP	Woodridge	Supported single and same-sex surrogacy	“The Surrogacy Bill 2009 is more to do with social justice than with social engineering, but it is far more than that.” Read the full speech	Supported civil partnerships
Jeff	Seeney	LNP	Callide	Opposed single and same-sex surrogacy		Opposed civil partnerships
Kerry	Shine	ALP	Toowoomba North	Supported single and same-sex surrogacy	“Can I say – and I suspect that this is the experience of other members – that most communications have urged members to vote against the government’s bill.” Read the full speech	Supported civil partnerships
Fiona	Simpson	LNP	Maroochydore	Opposed single and same-sex surrogacy		Opposed civil partnerships
Christine	Smith	ALP	Burleigh	Supported single and same-sex surrogacy	“Society is continually changing and evolving. Our legislation, processes and attitudes, by necessity, change with it.” Read the full speech	Supported civil partnerships
Ted	Sorensen	LNP	Hervey Bay	Opposed single and same-sex surrogacy		Opposed civil partnerships
Lawrence	Springborg	LNP	Southern Downs	Opposed single and same-sex surrogacy		Opposed civil partnerships
Ray	Stevens	LNP	Mermaid Beach	Opposed single and same-sex surrogacy		Opposed civil partnerships
Barbara	Stone	ALP	Springwood	Supported single and same-sex surrogacy	“...we need to start accepting a broader definition of family.” Read the full speech	Supported civil partnerships
Karen	Struthers	ALP	Algester	Supported single and same-sex surrogacy		Supported civil partnerships
Jann	Stuckey	LNP	Currumbin	Opposed single and same-sex surrogacy		Opposed civil partnerships
Carryn	Sullivan	ALP	Pumicestone	Supported single and same-sex surrogacy		Supported civil partnerships
Lillian	van Litsenburg	ALP	Redcliffe	Supported single and same-sex surrogacy		Supported civil partnerships
Craig	Wallace	ALP	Thuringowa	Supported single and same-sex surrogacy		Supported civil partnerships
Murray	Watt	ALP	Everton	Supported single and same-sex surrogacy		Supported civil partnerships
Peter	Wellington	IND	Nicklin	Opposed single and same-sex surrogacy		Supported civil partnerships
Dean	Wells	ALP	Murrumba	Supported single and same-sex surrogacy	“Altruistic surrogacy is not an activity that society has any business limiting...” Read the full speech	Supported civil partnerships
Wayne	Wendt	ALP	Ipswich West	Did not vote		Supported civil partnerships
Steve	Wettenhall	ALP	Barron River	Supported single and same-sex surrogacy	“I cannot accept the proposition that a single man, a single woman or a same sex couple cannot raise a child as successfully as a family consisting of a mother and a father.” Read the full speech	Supported civil partnerships
Geoff	Wilson	ALP	Ferny Grove	Supported single and same-sex surrogacy		Opposed civil partnerships

EMILY's List

EMILY's List is a political network formed to increase the number of women Labor parliamentarians who are willing to support key feminist issues, including abortion. It provides financial, political and personal support to Labor women candidates who agree to support the values of EMILY's List.

EMILY's List members and candidates must support the principles of equity, diversity, pro-choice, and the provision of equal pay and childcare, both in the community and in Parliament. Many of these are significant issues but it is concerning that membership of such a network dictates a parliamentarian's vote. For example, EMILY's List members consistently support pro-abortion policies, reflecting both their personal beliefs and their membership of the List.

Not all female Labor MPs are EMILY's List members. Some prominent ALP members support pro-life policies. However, if you want to support candidates who recognise the value of human life from its earliest stages then you need to know if your current representative or local candidate is a member of EMILY's List because List membership will determine her vote on these issues. Click here to find out.

List of EMILY’s List MPs in the Queensland Parliament