Pro-choice advocates hope Labor will also use its first majority since 2015 to decriminalise abortion

For the first time since 2015, the Queensland Labor government has a majority.

And it plans on using it.

For just short of three years, the Palaszczuk government managed to pass a majority of its legislation, despite an at times fickle crossbench, but also suffered defeats, particularly over tightening tree-clearing laws, after a 33% rise in 2015-16.

Labor vowed to reverse the Newman government decision that reduced restrictions on what landholders could clear after intense lobbying from the farming industry and other traditionally Nationals-aligned interest groups. But the legislation failed, after Labor lost the vote of a crucial crossbencher.

Queensland election: Labor to form government as LNP concedes defeat Read more

Now, with a one-seat buffer, Queensland Labor is set to try again, but will drop the reverse-onus-of-proof element of its original legislation, which would have forced landholders to prove it was not they who cleared the land, rather than authorities needing to prove their case.

“During the election campaign the Palaszczuk government committed to ending broad-scale tree clearing in Queensland by introducing tough and effective legislation, while creating a $500m land-restoration fund,” a spokeswoman for Annastacia Palaszczuk said.

“In line with this commitment the government will introduce legislation in the new year which will have the same intent and effect as the legislation the LNP blocked in 2016.

“This legislation will not include the requirement for a reverse-onus-of-proof, as the same outcome can now be achieved through improvements to compliance and monitoring, including more frequent monitoring of high-resolution satellite imagery.”

The promise is part of Queensland Labor’s attempts to meet the desires of voters who might otherwise potentially turn to the Greens, particularly in the south-east, while also balancing the need to retain votes in the regions.

The need to walk this tightrope led to Labor’s veto on any taxpayer-funded Naif loan for the Adani coalmine rail line, a calculated move that won votes in the south-east, without risking support in north and central Queensland.

“Doing it early, and doing it smart, will hopefully neutralise it as an issue moving forward,” one senior Queensland Labor source said.

“It is clearly something that has to be done, and it is a priority. But we have to make sure that this time, we are not demonised for it. It just makes sense.”

Advocates for the right to choose are also hoping the revamped Queensland parliament will open the door for the decriminalisation of abortion. A private member’s bill to do so failed earlier this year, after opponents inaccurately claimed it would allow terminations up to 40 weeks.

The issue was referred to the Queensland Law Reform Commission, and the independent statutory body’s report is due by the end of June.

Labor also committed to bringing legislation to “modernise” Queensland’s abortion laws, based on the recommendations from the QLRC, although under party rules, members will be allowed a conscience votes. Advocates for change are still unsure if they have the numbers.

But a review of candidates by Fair Agenda found the November election increased the number of openly pro-choice MPs in the Queensland parliament.

“Eight publicly pro-choice candidates won marginal seat races this election – this means Queensland is now closer than ever to having the votes needed to finally decriminalise abortion,” executive director Renee Carr said.

“However there’s still work to do, and it’s essential that Queenslanders now tell their local MP they want them to vote to remove abortion from the Queensland criminal code so we can hopefully see an end to these outdated and unnecessarily cruel laws that have affected so many women.”

After a first term criticised for hesitancy and inaction, and a narrow election win on the back of preferences, Palaszczuk has moved to reset her time in power.

One of her first moves after her government was sworn into office was moving to follow through on her Adani rail line veto vow, sending a letter to Malcolm Turnbull formalising her commitment to block any Naif loan.