South Australia's ongoing battle over abortion rights is set to intensify once again, with a third attempt to restrict late-term abortions in less than two years poised to be debated in the state parliament. This latest push, led by Upper House MLC Sarah Game, an independent formerly with One Nation, aims to impose new limits on abortions after 25 weeks, effectively banning them except when necessary to save the mother's life. The bill, endorsed by prominent anti-abortion campaigner Joanna Howe, removes the current clause allowing abortions after 23 weeks if the continuation of the pregnancy poses a significant risk to the physical or mental health of the pregnant person. Instead, it would only permit abortions to save the mother's life, and removes serious fetal abnormalities as a valid reason for late-term abortions. Howe argues that these changes will "provide protection for all children, irrespective of any kind of disability that they have."
Game, who has been vocal about her pro-life stance, believes the parliament has a duty to "protect vulnerable human life" and engage in an "honest conversation about where South Australia draws the line." She draws a parallel between the abortion debate and the ongoing discussion about tree felling in Possum Park for the North Adelaide Golf Course upgrade, suggesting that just as the parliament has made time to debate protecting possums, it should also address the protection of healthy babies. "This debate goes to fundamental questions about medicine, ethics, and the value we place on human life," she said.
However, this push is likely to face fierce opposition from abortion rights campaigners, who view it as an attack on women's rights and a threat to their health. Greens MLC Melanie Selwood, for instance, emphasizes that abortion is a "healthcare decision between a person and their doctor." She notes that activists, community members, and healthcare professionals have campaigned for decades to enshrine this right into law, and expresses disappointment at the continued attempts to roll it back. The bill's prospects are further complicated by the composition of the parliament, with only one supporter of Game's last bill remaining in the lower house, and the upper house now comprising three new members from One Nation, a party avowedly pro-life.
Despite these challenges, Howe remains optimistic, stating that the new upper house composition provides an opportunity to pass the bill. She also believes that the debate will allow for education and activation of local communities to persuade MPs to support the bill. However, the bill's journey through the lower house, which is dominated by Labor and Liberal MPs, remains uncertain. The fact that some MPs who have not had to vote on previous bills will now need to put their views on the record could lead to intense campaigns from both sides of the debate. The outcome of this latest push for a rollback of abortion rights will have significant implications for women's reproductive health and rights in South Australia, and could set a precedent for other states facing similar debates.
