Why Won’t Tim Nicholls Answer the Question?

Last night, Robbie Katter introduced a disallowance motion seeking to halt the LNP’s regulation change that allows midwives to prescribe the abortion pill. While there are many aspects of the debate that deserve discussion, one issue sits at the very heart of the matter - and it is the issue that Health Minister Tim Nicholls failed to address.

Regulative changes to abortion have been made by the LNP behind the scenes, whilst they have gagged the issue in the chamber.

Version 5 of the Extended Practice Authority for Midwives stated:

“For use in early medical termination of pregnancy. Only if the midwife has completed specified training and has been approved by their employer to administer or give a treatment dose of mifepristone and misoprostol (e.g. MS-2 Step).”[i]

In March 2024, Version 6 of the Extended Practice Authority was introduced, stating “a course approved by the midwife’s employer that includes at a minimum:

- education about early medical termination of pregnancy medicine/s including indications, contraindications, management of common side effects and

administration;

- confirming pregnancy and gestation;

- pre and post termination counselling;

- cultural safety;

- mental health assessment and psychosocial screening;

- screening for domestic violence and reproductive coercion;

- screening for sexually transmitted infections;

- contraceptive advice;

- appropriate management;

- escalation and follow up.”[ii]

Version 5 & Version 6 (March 2026) below:

The critical difference is not the training requirements. The critical difference is that the requirement for employer approval has been removed. The change is clear:

Version 5 (March 2024): Midwives must complete training and receive employer approval to administer MS-2 Step.

Version 6 (March 2026): Midwives must complete training, but employer approval is no longer required.

That is a substantive regulatory change. Whether one supports or opposes it, Queenslanders and their elected representatives have every right to ask why this safeguard was removed and what justification exists for doing so.

Robbie Katter did not dispute that training remains in place. His question was straightforward: Why was employer approval removed? Mr Katter stated at the beginning of his speech, “a course approved by the midwife’s employer. That has been taken out. That is a glaring omission in the change that is being proposed to this new regulation.”[iii]

Yet Health Minister, Tim Nicholls (who voted with Labor to allow abortion up to birth in 2018) failed to engage with the issue. In fact, he went further, stating, “nothing in the updated extended practice authority introduces, alters or expands such provisions. Nothing in these amendments changes the existing legal or clinical framework in that area … So in every step along the way the requirements are unchanged.”[iv]

This is blatantly false. As stated clearly above there has been a change. Nichols obfuscates and spends all his time arguing about version 7,[v] which is not relevant to the discussion as it applies to nurses not midwives.[vi] So, either he has misunderstood the nature of the motion, he has intentionally lied or it is a classic red herring?

Furthermore, Nicholls focuses on training requirements rather than addressing the removal of employer oversight, in doing so he sidesteps the central concern. The debate is not about whether training exists; it is about why an additional layer of accountability that previously existed has been taken away.

Queenslanders deserve a direct answer. Until the Government explains why employer approval was removed, it cannot credibly claim to have addressed the question that was put before it.

Rather conveniently the Speaker of the House LNP MP Jon Krause (Scenic Rim) then halted debate and moved straight to the vote without any opportunity for further questions.

The vote was as follows:

LNP, Labor, Greens MP and Independent (Noosa) voted against.

The Katter Australian Party voted for it.

MP for Traeger and Leader of the Katter Australian Party - Robbie Katter

[i] Queensland Health. “Medicines and Poisons Act 2019 Extended Practice Authority ‘Midwives’”.Queensland Health Website. Accessed 3 June, 2026. https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/Work-of-the-Assembly/Tabled-Papers/docs/5825t0329/5825t329.pdf. 9.

[ii] Queensland Health. “Extended practice authority: Midwives – version 6.” Queensland Health Website. Accessed 3 June, 2026. https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0026/1108943/epa-midwives.pdf. 7.

[iii] Queensland Parliament. “RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS: Tuesday, 2 June 2026.” Hansard. Accessed 3 June, 2026. https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/events/han/2026/2026_06_02_DAILY.pdf. 1599.

[iv] Queensland Parliament. “RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS: Tuesday, 2 June 2026.” Hansard. Accessed 3 June, 2026. https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/events/han/2026/2026_06_02_DAILY.pdf. 1601.

[v] Queensland Parliament. “RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS: Tuesday, 2 June 2026.” Hansard. Accessed 3 June, 2026. https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/events/han/2026/2026_06_02_DAILY.pdf. 1601.

[vi] Queensland Health. “Extended practice authority: Nurses – version 7.” Queensland Health Website. Accessed 3 June, 2026. https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0030/1108947/epa-registered-nurse.pdf