Labor defector Rob Pyne says he'll use his position as an independent MP in Queensland's hung parliament to try to decriminalise abortion.
Mr Pyne, who resigned from Labor in March, plans to table his first private members' bill in parliament on Tuesday, which will seek to remove abortion from Queensland's criminal code.
The outspoken MP says he is only able to take up the cause because of his move to the cross bench.
"As a member of the Labor party, you can't even move a private members' bill," Mr Pyne told AAP.
"You can't even play that substantive role as a legislator.
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"You're just limited to basically supporting ministers' bills and raising your hand when you're told."
Mr Pyne said the current laws were archaic and needed to change.
"I'm confident most Queenslanders believe that when a woman choses to terminate a pregnancy, there's no public benefit in charging her under the criminal code and prosecuting her," he said.
Mr Pyne's push comes after a 12-year-old girl last month needed permission from the Supreme Court before terminating her pregnancy.
Mr Pyne said that case and the 2010 trial of a Cairns couple on abortion charges had strengthened his resolve for reform.
"To have a young couple like that put in a witness box and questioned about their most personal details - I think that's wrong and it's not a good use of the law," the Cairns-based MP said.
Mr Pyne urged the major parties to allow a conscience vote on the issue.
Treasurer Curtis Pitt said Labor would allow a conscience vote, but Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls was reluctant to comment on the issue.
"We'll be considering it in the party room as we always do with these very important issues for Queenslanders," Mr Nicholls said.
The bill will be referred to a parliamentary committee after it's tabled.
