Independent member for Cairns Rob Pyne has introduced two bills to reform abortion laws in Queensland. Credit:Chris Hyde Mr Pyne called for other MPs to "embrace this historic opportunity" and said if they were unhappy with his bills, propose amendments as opposed to voting them down. "If people are unhappy with the gestation periods, put something different, if people are unhappy with the exclusion zones because they don't think there should be one, put an amendment like that," he said. "Please don't let down the Queensland people, don't just vote no as a cop out because you haven't got the courage to move an amendment or to participate in debating this unique opportunity." Mr Pyne said he was concerned MPs would vote against his bills because they wanted to "protect their jobs".

Leanne Linard has handed down the committee's report into the second abortion bill. The LNP members of the committee – Mark McArdle, Mark Robinson (who has been vocal in his opposition to any change) and Sid Cramp – said they could not recommend the bill be passed in a statement of reservation. They said the fact that one, neither or both of the bills could pass was concerning as no member could accurately predict the outcome. "That is an added complexity and worryingly places members in the position that their choices may not result in the outcome they want or worse, put in place laws that are conflicting and uncertain," the LNP members said. They also questioned whether the bills dealt with all issues, unintended consequences and amendments that would need to be made.

"We have a responsibility to pass clear and unambiguous legislation. We do not believe we are at that stage," it reads. The report points out that the second bill would not directly amend the current law about abortion in the Criminal Code, which could leave the potential for legal uncertainty. It would instead add to the Health Act, to set out who could perform an abortion, gestational limits, conscientious objection and protective zones. Professor Ben White of Queensland University of Technology's Australian Centre for Health Law Research said it could be difficult to act if legislation about abortion was both in the Criminal Code and the Health Act. If the first act – removing abortion from the Criminal Code – did not pass but the second one did, it could leave ambiguities in the law.

Fair Agenda executive director Renee Carr said the current laws were from the dark ages. "Queensland women deserve for decriminalisation of their healthcare decisions to be a priority," Ms Carr said. EARLIER: A parliamentary committee considering whether abortion laws in Queensland should be reformed could not agree whether to recommend that the bill be passed. Independent member for Cairns Rob Pyne introduced two private member's bills which, if passed, would decriminalise abortion. Abortion is the only medical procedure to feature in the Queensland Criminal Code.

It has sat there since 1899 but has been amended over the decades. The committee handed down its report into Mr Pyne's second bill late on Friday afternoon. Health, Communities, Disability Services and Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Committee chair Leanne Linard wrote that the issue attracted a high level of interest. "Community opinions about abortion are divergent, and often based on deeply held values," Ms Linard said. The committee received more than 1200 submissions to the inquiry into the second bill, and more than 2600 across the two bills.

Ms Linard said the committee carefully considered the views put to it in submissions and public hearings. "The committee has sought at all times to be respectful of the range of opinions presented to it," she said. Without a clear recommendation that the second bill should be passed, its success has been cast even further into doubt. In August, the committee recommended the first bill not be passed. The first bill – Abortion Law Reform (Woman's Right to Choose) Amendment Bill 2016 and Inquiry into laws governing termination of pregnancy – would remove abortion from the Criminal Code.

Missing from the proposal were details around gestational limits, conscientious objection and safe access zones. The second bill – Health (Abortion Law Reform) Amendment Bill 2016 – set guidelines, such as the establishment of 50 metres "safe zones" and gestation limits. The bills are due to be debated on March 1, and every Wednesday night until they are either passed or fail. Labor has allowed it members to have a conscience vote. The LNP will allow a conscience vote on the first bill but was waiting to see the committee's report on the second bill before deciding whether to have a conscience vote.

Fairfax Media asked Queensland's 89 MPs how they would vote. Of those who answered, 14 were generally for change, 12 indicated they were unlikely to support change and 44 said they were undecided or declined to state their position. Earlier on Friday, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said she believed abortion should not be in the Criminal Code. "It is an incredibly complex issue and I think there would be a very strong view that it should not be a crime," she said.

"However, I do have some concerns about the second bill so I will have a look at that. "These are very personal issues too, between a woman, her family and her doctor. "Very sensitive, very emotional, very complex." Ms Palaszczuk said she would consider both bills together but needed to read the committee's report on the second bill before making her decision.