Anti-abortion activists have gathered outside South Australia Parliament, in support of a new proposal to ban late-term abortion.
Liberal MP Ben Hood has introduced a bill that would require anyone seeking an abortion from 28 weeks to give birth instead.
Hood said after “a healthy baby is delivered alive,” a mother “has the right to relinquish the child for adoption.”
The state currently allows for abortion up to 23 weeks of pregnancy. Late-term abortions are permitted in some circumstances.
The bill is not expected to pass.
Background
Abortion was decriminalised in South Australia in 2021, allowing terminations up to 22 weeks and 6 days of pregnancy.
Abortions past this period can be approved in some circumstances. For instance, if the pregnancy poses a risk to life or mental health.
Late-term abortions require sign-off from two medical professionals before they can be permitted.
Hood
This week, SA MP Ben Hood introduced a Private Members Bill. This is a bill that can be introduced independently, without the support of a party.
Hood claims there have been 45 late-term abortions in SA since 2021, which he described as “healthy, viable babies”.
The bill to ban late-term abortions in South Australia
The bill would ban the approval of late-term abortions in South Australia, but is not expected to pass.
According to Hood’s proposal, “a medical practitioner may only intervene to end the pregnancy of a person who is more than 27 weeks and six days pregnant if the intention is to deliver the foetus alive.”
Hood said a mother would not be required “to form a maternal relationship with the child,” because they could put the baby up for adoption.
Late-term
Women’s Forum Australia described the proposal as a “positive step”.
It said a woman can “terminate her pregnancy up until full term through abortion. Whereas under the Bill, if the pregnancy has advanced past 27 weeks and 6 days, she can only terminate it by prematurely delivering the baby alive.”
SA Greens Senator Barbara Pocock said “Late-term abortions are rare” and “often come about because of compounding medical, social and emotional circumstances.”
Demonstrations
Anti-abortion groups rallied in support of Hood’s bill outside SA Parliament on Wednesday.
University of Adelaide professor and activist Dr Joanna Howe spoke at demonstrations yesterday. How claimed, “overwhelmingly,” women have said “they want this bill to pass.”
Howe told supporters: “We need more Ben Hoods in the Parliament.”
Demonstrators have planned “community action” outside the office of Deputy SA Premier Susan Close on Friday.
Opposition
SHINE SA, a reproductive health clinic, condemned the proposed bill.
CEO Holley Skene defended the state’s current abortion laws, which she said are based on “scientific evidence, expert opinion, and extensive community input”.
Skene said the bill is “out of touch” with abortion laws in Australia and internationally.
SA Abortion Action Coalition described the bill as “extreme” and said it “negates the right to choose what happens to your body.”
