The Hidden Risks – LNP's Anti-Abortion Roots Run Deep
Susanna Damianopoulos, the LNP candidate for Springwood, has a long history of anti-abortion activism. Damianopoulos, who once protested outside Parliament with the word “LIFE” taped across her mouth, now claims to respect LNP leader David Crisafulli’s promise not to change Queensland’s abortion laws during the party’s first term in government.
Despite these assurances, Damianopoulos has been a vocal opponent of abortion for over a decade. Her activism, dating back to 2008, involved lobbying against decriminalisation and leading religious protests aimed at overturning women’s reproductive rights. Candidates like Damianopoulos add to the concerns that Crisafulli’s LNP team is becoming stacked with anti-abortion members, raising fears about the future of reproductive rights in Queensland.
The Track Record is Clear
Damianopoulos’s history as a hardline anti-abortion protester tells us everything we need to know: Her views haven't changed. While she now claims to respect others’ opinions, the LNP’s track record on reproductive rights suggests that anti-abortion sentiments run deep within the party. The real danger here isn’t just what Damianopoulos has said, but the strategy at play: pretending abortion is “off the table” until after the election while stacking the deck with anti-choice candidates.
Crisafulli’s vague promise that no changes will be made in the first term is hardly reassuring. What about the second term? And even within the first term, conscience votes remain on the table, meaning individual LNP MPs—like Damianopoulos—could still vote for restrictions if given the opportunity.
A Coordinated Agenda, Hidden in Plain Sight
Damianopoulos’s history reveals how personal beliefs can drive political decisions, especially when those beliefs are fuelled by religious ideology.
The LNP’s tactic of deflecting focus toward “cost of living, crime, and health” is a classic bait-and-switch. What they aren’t saying out loud is just as important as what they are: There’s nothing stopping the party from revisiting abortion laws after the election or during future terms.
If elected, candidates like Damianopoulos will have a platform to push their anti-choice agenda—even if it’s not the party’s “official focus” at the moment. This is a threat we cannot ignore.
A Warning for Voters: Don’t Be Fooled
The LNP’s sudden shift in tone—from opposing decriminalisation in 2018 to claiming they’ll protect abortion rights—raises a critical question: Can Queenslanders trust a party that’s so deeply invested in the issue?
Damianopoulos’s anti-abortion views are not isolated—they reflect the sentiments of many within the LNP, including candidates like Freya Ostapovitch and Donna Kirkland, who have also struggled to clearly state their stance. In 2018, only 3 LNP MPs voted to decriminalise abortion, a tiny minority in their party room. These individual candidates could easily vote for restrictions through conscience votes, undermining abortion access without the need for a formal party shift.
What’s at Stake: The Right to Choose
One thing clear: The threat to reproductive rights is real, and it goes beyond campaign promises. Even if the LNP doesn’t move to restrict abortion during its first term, the groundwork is already being laid for future attacks.
If the LNP wins this election, they will control the future of reproductive health policy in Queensland. We cannot allow ambiguous promises to replace concrete commitments to protect women’s rights.
Vote for Candidates Who Stand for Choice
This election is about our fundamental rights.
Don’t be fooled by vague reassurances. Candidates like Susanna Damianopoulos have made their views clear in the past, and they shouldn’t get a free pass to rewrite the future of reproductive rights in Queensland.
We urge everyone to stay informed, ask tough questions, and vote for candidates who are committed to safeguarding reproductive freedom—without conditions or loopholes. The right to choose isn’t just at risk—it’s under attack.
Let’s make sure that our voices are louder than theirs on October 26. Vote to protect reproductive rights in Queensland, today and always.
