How women could be banned from having an abortion in this Australian state

Some pregnant women could be banned from abortion in South Australia under a controversial proposal from an Opposition MP.

When the Liberal Party was last in power, from 2018 to 2022, it decriminalized abortion and legalized late-term termination after review by two medical professionals.

But Liberal House of Lords member Ben Hood has reopened the divisive debate with a bill on the issue.

Mr Hood, who was elected in the March 2022 election after existing legislation was passed, said his proposed changes “provide an alternative approach” to the way late-term abortions are handled.

The Conservative MP’s amendments would mean that women who want an abortion from 27 weeks and six days would have the baby delivered alive rather than being stillborn.

“What we’re doing is trying to find a balance between the rights of a woman to be able to choose to terminate a pregnancy, but also with the rights of the child,” Hood told the newspaper. ABC.

The Liberals’ recently installed Vincent Tarzia said Hood’s proposed changes were not party policy, but another of his colleagues has dismissed the plan.

Michelle Lensink, who also sits in the SA Upper House, said it was “one of the worst pieces of legislation I have ever drafted”.

Some pregnant women could be banned from abortion in South Australia under a controversial proposal from an opposition MP (stock image)

Ms Lensink, who comes from the moderate wing of the party, was a minister in the previous Liberal government that introduced the abortion changes in Parliament.

But the party’s conservative wing is resurgent in South Australia, as evidenced by Mr Tarzia taking over after the more centrist David Speirs resigned, declaring he had “taken a beating” from internal party machinations.

Although the right does not have overall control of the party in the state, it had enough influence to ensure that Tarzia replaced Mr Speirs.

Liberal Conservatives were unhappy with the way abortion law changes were handled under the previous government led by Steven Marshall.

The timing of Hood’s bill, so soon after the Liberals became conservative leader, has been questioned, although he had reportedly been working on it for some time.

“He is engaging in the kind of internal party politics that are supposedly designed for the pre-selections (for the 2026 elections) now underway, rather than for real reform,” said Labor Deputy Prime Minister Susan Close.

But Hood said her claim was “quite insulting” to him and “something I’ve been passionate about for a number of years, even before I got into politics.”

Earlier this month, videos and photos emerged showing Mr Speirs snorting white powder from a plate.

Despite the footage coming from his home and the person depicted closely resembling Mr Speirs, he said it was not him and suggested the footage could be a ‘deep fake’.

The Conservative MP’s amendments would mean that women who want an abortion from 27 weeks and six days will have the baby delivered alive rather than being stillborn (stock image)

The video’s metadata shows it was recorded at 4:12 a.m. on June 30, when Mr Speirs was still the Liberal leader.

A second still image timestamped two hours later showed the same man at the kitchen bench with seven lines of white powder on the plate and a plastic bank card visible.

Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting Mr Speirs did anything illegal.

Mr Hood has been contacted for comment.