We congratulate Hon Sarah Game MLC other courageous MPs, Right to Life South Australia and outstanding activist Dr Joanna Howe who worked tirelessly in South Australia to overcome a massive hurdle in the fight to protect unborn life .
The Termination of Pregnancy (Restrictions on Terminations after 24 Weeks and 6 Days) Amendment Bill 2026 – to protect the life of unborn babies after 25 weeks gestation - was introduced by MP Hon Sarah Game MLC and passed the Legislative Council of the SA Parliament (17 June 2026) – 10 votes to 9.
Coinciding with the Legislative Council debate a rally was held on the steps of Parliament House in Adelaide. An enthusiastic group of pro-lifers braved the rain and blustery conditions to support the pro-life parliamentarians and greeted news of the Legislative Council win with rousing cheers.
Later that evening, after the passage of the bill in the Council Labor rushed the bill into debate in the House of Assembly. Ultimately the bill did not pass the lower house – both houses are required for the bill to become law. It was defeated 36:9.
The good news is the South Australian election in March 2026 saw the composition of the Legislative Council change with the election of 3 One Nation South Australia candidates - all 3 voted for the bill.
It is pleasing Premier of South Australia Peter Malinauskas MP and Leader of the Opposition Ashton Hurn MP (Lib) voted in favour of the bill in the Legislative Assembly. Mr Malinauskas voted in favour of decriminalising abortion in 2021 while Ms Hurn was not in government at that time.
South Australia’s Termination of Pregnancy Act 2021 legalising abortion to birth was passed on 19 February 2021. Abortion is legal up to 22 weeks and 6 days without restriction. Late-term abortions are legal after 22 weeks 6 days with approval from two doctors, if the continuation of pregnancy would involve “significant risk of injury to the physical or mental health” of the woman.
The SA government’s Annual Report for the Year 2023 from the South Australian Abortion Reporting Committee reports 4,905 abortions in South Australia in 2023, compared with 4,851 in 2022. Forty seven (47) late term abortions were performed after 22 weeks and 6 days gestation. Of these, 37 babies (nearly 80%) were aborted for reason of physical or mental health of the mother. Ten babies were aborted for fetal abnormality. There were no late term abortions reported to save the life of the mother.
Dr Joanna Howe, Professor of Law and Director of Australia Life said during the campaign ““Since the enactment of abortion up to birth in July 2022, there have been 105 babies killed through late-term abortion. These poor babies have been injected with potassium chloride in the heart and delivered intentionally stillborn. This is not healthcare. It’s murder and it has no place in a just and humane society.”
Dr Melissa Lai, Senior Neonatologist (newborn medical specialist) and President of Pro-life Health Professionals Australia said “At 25 weeks’ gestation, for a normally developed baby, resuscitation and intensive care support is offered as standard care, with average survival over 82% across all tertiary nurseries in the Australian and New Zealand Neonatal Network,” she said. “There is, in fact, no medical reason to terminate these infants in-utero by feticide, in order to save a mother’s life.”
Over the past two years, with successive attempts to pass pro-life bills in South Australia Right to Life Australia has campaigned and asked supporters to write to your representatives and attend the rallies held on the steps of Parliament. We thank you for your commitment - your work to protect life has been fruitful.
HOW YOUR SOUTH AUSTRALIAN MPS VOTED:
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL VOTE:
AYES (10)
Bernardi, C.
Centofanti, N.J.
Game, S.L. (teller)
Girolamo, H.M.
Hewett, R.J.
Hood, B.R.
Hood, D.G.E.
Ngo, T.T.
Quaremba, C.L.
Scriven, C.M.
NOES (9)
Bourke, E.S.
El Dannawi, M.
Gumbys, H.J.
Hanson, J.E.
Hunter, I.K.
Maher, K.J.
Selwood, M. (teller)
Simms, R.A.
Wortley, R.P.
PAIRS
Henderson, L.A.
Lensink, J.M.A.
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY VOTE
AYES (9)
Brown, M.E.
Hurn, A.M.
Koutsantonis, A.
Malinauskas, P.B.
Paton, D.
Roylance, R.J.
Telfer, S.J.
Thomas, C. (teller)
Virgo, J.W.
NOES (36)
Agness, J.P.
Andrews, S.E.
Batty, J.A.
Ben, L.R
Bettison, Z.L.
Bolkus, A.C.
Boyer, B.I.
Brock, G.G.
Champion, N.D.
Clancy, N.P.
Fatchen, T.A.
Fulbrook, J.P.
Hildyard, K.A. (teller)
Hood, L.P.
Hughes, E.J.
Hutchesson, C.L.
Marozzi, M.J.
Mitton, J.A.
Nicholson, L.H.
O'Hanlon, C.C.
Pearce, R.K.
Picton, C.J.
Priest, T.M.
Rich, C.C.
Roberts, J.L.
Rolls, A.J.
Savvas, O.M.
Schultz, M.J.
Shaw, E.R.
Spencer, M.R.
Stinson, J.M.
Szakacs, J.K.
Teague, J.B.
Thompson, E.L.
Whetstone, T.J.
Wilkins, D.G.
The Right to Life Australia Inc. defends the right to life of all human beings from conception until natural death. We lobby government for legal protection of the most vulnerable in society – the unborn baby, elderly, sick and those with disabilities.