Abortion bill vote spurs member’s change of heart
One independent legislative councillor changed her stance on late-term abortion laws, as a controversial bill was defeated last night.
Fair Go for Australians leader Sarah Game’s late-term abortion bill was defeated in the Legislative Council last night, with eight votes in support of it and 11 against.
Most members of parliament’s Upper House voted the same way they did when a similar bill was presented by Ben Hood last year, but Independent MLC Jing Lee, who voted for Hood’s bill, chose to vote against Game’s.
Lee was a member of the Liberal Party when Hood’s bill was voted on in October 2024, and later left the party to sit on the crossbench in January.
In an emotional speech to parliament, Lee said that since the last debate, she had reflected, heard from hundreds of constituents, spoken to medical and religious groups, and considered her own Buddhist faith.
“I still believe that life is precious and begins at conception, but I also believe we must value the lives and well-being of women facing this complex, emotional and deeply personal decision,” she said.
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The current laws allow abortions after 23 weeks if the pregnancy involves “significant risk to physical or mental health” of the pregnant person, and requires approval by two doctors.
The debate began after 5 pm, with a rally coordinated by the bill’s writer Dr Joanna Howe, who has a doctorate in law philosophy, on the Parliament House steps occurring from 5:30 pm.
Howe yesterday announced a “fun game” hosted on her website where followers could buy words and predict what would be said during the debate for $1 – $70.
Addressing parliament in her final remarks before the vote, she said the crowd outside showed abortion was not a “niche issue”.
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“It’s really interesting for me and upsetting, but also interesting to see the way a lot of people in here still want to go with this narrative, or this is a niche issue, ‘we’re wasting time again in Parliament about something that’s not important’,” she said.
“It’s totally incongruent with what’s happening outside. It’s a rare occasion where we’re talking and people are turning up to listen. That doesn’t happen very often, and not to that sort of size of crowds.”
Deputy Premier Kyam Maher, who also voted against Game’s bill, said past debate on this issue showed parliament “at its worst”.
“12 months ago, when this bill was before us again, I think it showed Parliament and the parliamentary processes at its very worst; it was the most unedifying debate I have ever been a part of in my time,” Maher said.
The SA Abortion Action Coalition – which presented a petition of 4600 signatures to parliament earlier on Wednesday – said the failure of the bill showed the MLCs that voted for it were “out of touch”.
“Only twelve months since Ben Hood’s cruel anti-abortion Bill was voted down, the failure of Game’s Bill reminds us – yet again – that these anti-abortion MLCs are out of touch with the South Australian community’s expectation and appreciation of evidence-based and compassionate healthcare,” spokesperson Brigid Coombe AM said.
The two major parties consider the abortion bill a conscience issue, allowing members to vote individually and not on a party position.
