A proposed bill to protect viable unborn children past 22 weeks and 6 days was defeated in the South Australian Legislative Council by a vote of 11-8 last night. The legislation, introduced by Independent Member of the Legislative Council Sarah Game, aimed to provide significant protections for late-term unborn babies while still allowing terminations in cases where the mother’s life is at risk or in instances of severe fetal anomalies.
Deepa Mathew, the lead candidate for Family First in the South Australian Upper House, expressed disappointment following the vote. Mathew emphasized that the decision to re-establish Family First stemmed from the South Australian Liberal Party’s introduction of abortion-to-birth legislation in 2021, which removed vital protections for both unborn children and their mothers.
Since the passage of the Termination of Pregnancy Act, there have been 79 legal terminations of healthy, viable babies beyond the 22 weeks and 6 days threshold, despite the absence of emergency conditions. The procedure typically involves feticide, where a long needle filled with potassium chloride is injected into the baby’s heart through the mother’s abdomen, resulting in the death of the fetus without administering pain relief. Mathew argued that research indicates that fetuses at this stage can feel pain, and she asserted that if the media accurately reported these practices, public opinion in South Australia would shift against them.
In light of this defeat, Family First is committed to electing pro-life parliamentarians, with Mathew’s campaign for the upcoming South Australian Parliament election in March being a primary focus. She stated, “While this defeat is a setback, it is not the end of the battle for the protection of unborn children and for better support for their mothers.”
The ongoing debate surrounding abortion rights and regulations continues to evoke strong emotions and opinions across the political landscape. Advocates for both sides of the issue remain vocal, as the implications of such legislation extend beyond legal parameters to deeply personal and ethical considerations for families.
As the conversation evolves, it remains to be seen how future legislative efforts will address the complexities of late-term abortions and the perceived rights of the unborn.
