Pro-life supporters rally amid debate over controversial abortion bill

Pro-life supporters have gathered in Adelaide to support a controversial bill to ban late-term abortions.

People gathered at the steps of South Australia’s Parliament House at 5pm on Wednesday for an anti-abortion rally.

People stood along the steps holding signs of individual numbers from one to 45 to represent the number of pregnancies that were terminated after 23 weeks.

Under Adelaide’s legislation that was passed in 2021, a pregnant woman can terminate a pregnancy after 22 weeks and six days if deemed medically appropriate for the mother, and must receive the approval of two doctors.

Liberal MP Ben Hood introduced amendments to the Upper House on Wednesday, going against his party’s policy.

Speaking at the rally, Hood said he feared “most South Australians” do not know the full-extent of pregnancy terminations practices in the state.

“What this bill does is strike a balance. It is a balance between the lawful right to choose, but it is (also) a balance about the right to life of a healthy viable baby,” Hood said.

They propose that a woman who is over 27 weeks and six days would have to either keep the child or put it up for adoption.

“What my amendments hope to do is balance the choice of the mother with the rights of the child,” Hood said.

The proposal has caused debate within the SA political circle, with the state’s health minister describing the legislation as an “extreme right-wing culture war bill”.

Senior Labor MP’s have described the move as absurd.

The opposition said it would allow its MPs a conscience vote on the issue.

Labor has not yet stated if they will follow suit, while MPs have said they are waiting to see a copy of the bill.

For the bill, which is not a Liberal policy, to progress, it would need 11 votes in the legislative council.