In a significant decision for reproductive rights, the South Australian parliament has defeated a controversial bill that sought to impose strict restrictions on late-term abortions. The proposed legislation was voted down by 11 votes to 8 during an emotional parliamentary session that saw several members become visibly distressed.
Contentious Legislation Sparks Heated Debate
The bill was introduced by former One Nation MLC Sarah Game, now an independent, who collaborated with controversial anti-abortion activist Joanna Howe. The proposed amendment aimed to fundamentally alter South Australia's current abortion laws, which permit termination from 23 weeks when there's significant risk to the mother's physical or mental health.
The defeated legislation would have watered down these provisions to only allow abortion where it would save the life of the mother or another foetus, or if there was a significant risk of foetal abnormalities. During the debate, Game argued that in medical emergencies threatening a mother's health, doctors should perform emergency caesareans or induce labour rather than terminate pregnancies.
Concerns Over Impact on Vulnerable Women
Greens MLC Tammy Franks delivered powerful testimony against the bill, warning that it would disallow abortion in numerous serious cases. She highlighted that the amendment would particularly affect young girls, women prevented from accessing earlier abortions, victims of domestic and sexual violence including rape and incest, and cases where maternal health was deteriorating.
Attorney-General Kyam Maher echoed concerns from medical experts, referencing comments from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) that the bill was "premised either on an ignorance of reality or a wilful misrepresentation of the facts."
Political Divisions and External Influence
The debate revealed clear political divisions, with Liberal MLC Michelle Lensink voting against the bill and criticising it for undermining "one of the fundamental principles in health decision making, which is informed consent for the patient." She notably commented that the policies of "a certain US administration" were not "contagious," referencing concerns about imported anti-abortion tactics.
This controversy occurs against the backdrop of Joanna Howe's indefinite ban from the state parliament following alleged "threatening and intimidating tactics" during previous abortion legislation debates last year. Howe has denied any wrongdoing.
The South Australian Abortion Action Coalition welcomed the bill's defeat, with co-convenor Brigid Coombe stating it demonstrated that anti-abortion MLCs were "out of touch with the SA community's expectation and appreciation of evidence-based and compassionate healthcare."
