The South Australian parliament has defeated a bill that sought to restrict access to abortions after 22 weeks and six days. The proposed legislation, introduced by independent MLC Sarah Game, would have amended current law to allow late-term abortions only to save the life of the mother or another foetus, or in cases of significant risk of foetal abnormalities.
During an emotional debate on Wednesday night, several MLCs became visibly distressed. Attorney General Kyam Maher cited the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (Ranzcog), which stated the bill was based on ignorance or wilful misrepresentation of facts. Maher expressed sympathy for mothers facing difficult decisions late in pregnancy.
Current law permits abortions from 23 weeks when there is significant risk to the physical or mental health of the mother. Game argued that in emergencies, doctors should deliver the baby alive rather than terminate. However, independent MLC Tammy Franks noted the bill would disallow abortions for young girls, victims of domestic violence, rape, incest, and sexual slavery, among others.
Liberal MLC Michelle Lensink voted against the bill, stating it undermined informed consent and that US anti-abortion policies were not contagious. The bill's defeat follows controversy over anti-abortion activist Joanna Howe, who was banned from parliament after alleged intimidation tactics. Ranzcog emphasised that late-term abortions are rare and usually involve severe foetal abnormalities or threats to the mother's life.
