Call made on controversial SA abortion bill
A controversial abortion bill has faced its second test to become law, with Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis lashing out at criticism of the Labor party’s conscience vote.
Sarah Game’s late-term abortion bill has failed to clear the lower house, 36 to nine, meaning it would not become law.
Both the Premier and the Opposition leader voted in favour of Game’s bill, but neither rose to debate in the lower house tonight.
It comes after the bill passed the upper house with 10 votes in favour and nine against, with supporters chanting on the steps of parliament and a packed gallery of spectators.
One Nation’s Chantelle Thomas opened the debate, criticising the government for fast-tracking the bill to the lower house in the same night, which was met with a lashing from Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis.
“While I would have encouraged all members to engage with the perspectives of their constituents, the government has moved tonight to stop that from happening,” Thomas said.
“This is a matter on which members should rightly be afforded a conscious vote with as much time as possible to consider it, and it is appropriate that each member reaches their own conclusion.
“It is disappointing that the members, some new and some old, will now not be able to consult properly with their constituents before speaking for them, especially on such an issue that weighed heavily on many South Australians.
“I had hoped that we would have time to propagate this bill in the community and speak with our constituents about their views. I am disappointed that we have not been able to do that because of the rushed nature of this vote put on by the government.”
Thomas’ comments come after InDaily revealed bill author and anti-abortion campaigner Joanna Howe had called members of parliament asking them to drag out the debate so it would not progress to the lower house tonight – giving them more time to campaign.
Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis lashed out at the “lecture” on conscience votes, which allows members to vote individually and not on a party position.
“The Labor Party is exercising a conscience vote, and you’ll see a disparity of views because we are not a party that binds all our members on these matters,” Koutsantonis said.
“I’m not going to have it. Don’t walk in here 90 days after being elected and lecture me about conscience votes, and lecture me about abortion, and lecture me about euthanasia. How dare you?
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“I’ve been doing this for 28 years. Don’t walk in here and disparage my colleagues who are voting on their conscience. These are all good people everywhere in this place. All of them will be voting their conscience, either for or against their bill.”
Koutsantonis voted for the bill and said that while he expected it to fail, he believed it was “historic” that the bill passed the upper house.
Both Premier Peter Malinauskas and Opposition Leader Ashton Hurn voted in favour of Game’s bill.
Malinauskas voted in favour of decriminalising abortion in 2021 and voted in support of amendments that would restrict access in some circumstances. Hurn was not in government in 2021 when the decriminalisation bill was passed.
Health Minister Blair Boyer said the existing laws were already “fit for purpose” and “treat abortion as healthcare”.
“It was very hard fought and won by people who bravely stood in this place and voted for it and who stood on the shoulders of people who bravely called for it from outside this parliament for many, many years before I’ve had the good fortune to sit here,” Boyer said.
Transport Minister Joe Szakacs, Katrine Hilyard and Independent Louise Nicholson also spoke against the bill.
Today is Game’s second attempt in eight months to pass legislation of this kind, the third in the upper house since 2024.
The decision to fast-track the debate was announced on Wednesday morning with Premier Peter Malinauskas saying he would not allow the issue to “hijack” the government’s agenda.
Members in both houses of parliament wore orange ribbons to show their support for abortion access, including Liberal Michelle Lensink, Deputy Premier Kyam Maher, Labor members Ian Hunter, Mira el Dannawi, Hilton Gumbys, Justin Hanson and Greens Robert Simms and Melanie Selwood.
Lower house members, including Health Minister Blair Boyer, Transport Minister Joe Szackas, Multicultural Affairs Minister Nadia Clancy, Local Government Minister Rhiannon Pearce, Katrine Hilyard, Catherine Hutchesson and Cheyne Rich also wore orange ribbons.
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