A committee inquiry report,published in late September,said the proposed changes would have “serious adverse effects” on access to abortion services,and would undermine patient autonomy. It recommended the bill not pass and abortion service staffing levels be boosted.

LNP committee members did not pen a statement of reservations to sit alongside the report.

Parliament was then dissolved,causing the bill to lapse,but Katter has vowed to reintroduce it “at the earliest opportunity”.

Such a move would trigger another committee process,likely controlled bywhichever major party forms government after October 26. This would report back within six months before the bill was debated and voted on.

Parliament is scheduled to sit fortwo more weeks this year after the election.

While One Nation no longer has an MP in state parliament,key Keppel candidate James Ashby has also criticised Crisafulli as “gutless” for promising not to change abortion laws.

This election is going to be really,really close,and increasingly,because of the[abortion] scare campaign,it’ll get closer by the day. And I’m asking Queenslanders to see through that.

David Crisafulli speaking to journalists on Tuesday

This week,The Australian reported comments by LNP frontbencher Tony Perrett,who told a candidate forum in Gympie this month that he voted againstdecriminalising abortion in 2018 and “would continue to do so”.

At a livestreamed forum in his Scenic Rim electorate last month,the LNP’s Jon Krause told attendees he hoped to gather “like-minded members” – and see more elected – to “repeal those laws or to make significant amendments”.

Speaking on Tuesday to journalists travelling with his campaign in Cairns – where he also promisednew early intervention programsto curb youth crime – Crisafulli said his promise that “there will be no change … is as definitive as I can be”.

But he declined to answer when asked if he would stake his leadership on ensuring such change would not occur,as he has done with crime victim numbers.

Health Minister Shannon Fentiman doubled down on her party’s attacks on Tuesday,while also announcing adoubling in size of Redland Hospital in that marginal Labor seat.

“We’ve seen his MPs saying they are determined to wind[legal abortion access] back … and yet David Crisafulli says this is all a Labor scare campaign,” she said.

“Well,I am scared. I’m scared of what is coming for Queensland women and girls if they are elected.”

Greens essential services spokesperson Amy MacMahon said both Crisafulli and Premier Steven Miles needed to commit to boosting abortion funding,amid longstanding criticism of a“postcode lottery”.

Start the day with a summary of the most important and interesting stories,analysis and insights.Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.