Queensland's abortion law reforms passed through parliament on Wednesday night. 

Under the changes, abortion will be removed from the criminal code and made a health issue, allowing women to terminate pregnancies up to 22 weeks' gestation.

Terminations after 22 weeks will be allowed with the approval of two independent doctors.

Health minister Steven Miles said before the laws passed, women in the north west were forced to travel hundreds of kilometres to Townsville or Brisbane to undergo safe surgical termination, after nine weeks gestation. 

But Mr Katter was firm on his vote, saying “life is sacred and we should be doing everything we can to give them a chance of a life outside”.

“For me, personally, it stirs me very emotionally to think of the rights of the unborn and defenceless life that I believe we are charged with protecting at all costs,” Mr Katter said. 

“I cannot pretend to know how confronting it must be for a pregnant woman facing personal stress in a relationship, financial hardship or any number of these adverse scenarios—what an impact on a person’s life to contemplate. 

“However, the default option of terminating a life under these scenarios completely ignores the rights of that child to live. It is like a presumption of guilt—that the child’s life is the barrier between that mother’s chance of health and happiness,” he said. 

Mr Katter also argued some doctors would jump at the “economic incentive” of providing safe legal abortions – maybe even encouraging the procedure.  

“We have seen evidence right throughout the medical industries of unethical people operating like that, and this would not be excluded. If it was easier for them to perform any sort of procedure, they could gain that economic incentive,” he said. 

“That is a very dark thought to raise but I think it is a very real thing to consider.”

He also argued that decriminalising abortion could pave the way to “designer babies”. 

“I am under no illusions that taking the time period for termination to 22 weeks will allow gender selection of children. I think it is very naive to think it will not occur and it will not be easier under this legislation,” Mr Katter said. 

“Where does this stop? Is it Williams syndrome, Down syndrome, blue eyes, brown eyes, male, female? Where does this lead?”

Mr Katter underlined his concern that decriminalising abortion could lead to more terminations of fetuses with disabilities. 

“That disgusts me because I think of some disabled people in my life who I love and they have every right to have a chance at life. They have created wonderful lives for the people around them. I think there is a very dark risk of this enabling those people to be wiped out of the gene pool,” he said.

But ultimately Mr Katter was unsuccessful in swaying his parliamentary colleagues and the bill was passed 50 votes to 41 after both the government and opposition gave their members a conscience vote on the issue.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the changes will ensure women can access safe and legal terminations without fear or stigma.

"This is an historic day for Queensland. The Palaszczuk government is proud to deliver on our election commitment to modernise and clarify the laws around termination of pregnancy," Ms Palaszczuk said on Wednesday night.

The changes also establish safe zones around clinics and medical facilities offering the procedure to stop staff and patients being harassed by anti-abortion activists.