SA abortion reform exposing division in Labor and Liberal parties, writes Paul Starick

Abortion reform in SA is stoking division with the community – and risking factional warfare in both Labor and Liberal, writes Paul Starick.

Attorney-General Vickie Chapman is one of the Bill’s proponents. Picture: AAP / Roy VanDerVegt

An ambitiously extensive social agenda spanning abortion, the “gay panic” defence and domestic violence has been seized by an emboldened state Liberal Party, which is trampling across the traditional territory of its Labor opponents.

On the eve of parliamentary debate next week on a Termination of Pregnancy Bill, the looming conscience vote is exposing internal division in both major parties, triggering the risk of factional conflagration for both Premier Steven Marshall and Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas.

The proposed law reform decriminalises abortion and turns it into a health issue. It allows for termination beyond 22 weeks and six days’ gestation if two medical practitioners confirm “under all circumstances” it would be “medically appropriate”.

Tackling such contentious reform little more than a year before a state election risks a debilitating and ongoing brawl for both leaders, fuelled by pressure groups and internal critics. Thousands of pro-life supporters braved last Saturday’s rain to protest against the Bill, while supporters of the abortion bill will rally this Saturday.

South Australia in 1969 was the first Australian jurisdiction to legislate for the lawful medical termination of pregnancy. The proposed Bill acknowledges that medical termination, rather than surgery, is safe and common. It proposes women consult one doctor, other than for late-term procedures.

Thousands of people on the Walk For Life march to protest abortion reforms. Picture: Mike Burton

The Bill, put forward by Deputy Premier and Attorney-General Vickie Chapman, already has triggered heated division within Liberal ranks. Ms Chapman and Senator Alex Antic last October clashed in duelling letters over the latter’s contention that the “Liberal Party which I know would reject the Bill”.

Police Minister Vincent Tarzia, hailed as a Liberal hero after fending off Nick Xenophon’s 2018 challenge in his Hartley electorate, is among those to declare they will vote against the Bill. Hartley has the nation’s highest proportion of Catholics of any seat, thanks to a strong Italian community – so Mr Tarzia is reflecting his electorate.

Mr Marshall, who has emerged as a more confident and pragmatic premier during the coronavirus pandemic, will strive to manage the debate without endangering the factional peace that has defined his eight years of Liberal leadership.

A rump section of the once-dominant Liberal Right, including Senator Antic and state upper house member Nicola Centofanti, has already generated internal tension. Mr Marshall will not want to risk this fomenting in the lead-up to an election.

As such, he has deployed the devout Christian David Speirs, the Environment and Water Minister, to deal with internal ideological concerns.

Troubleshooter: Environment and Water Minister David Speirs (left) with Premier Steven Marshall. Picture: AAP / David Mariuz

“The Premier has enlisted David Speirs to draft amendments that will make it very comfortable for the majority of the Liberal party room to support the legislation,” a senior Liberal said.

It is understood the Speirs amendments will create much stronger rules governing late-term abortions, potentially involving doctors risking registration if these are breached.

The amendments are expected to include specifically barring measures such as using late-term abortion for gender selection.

This is understood to be a key concern for Mr Malinauskas. It is understood the Labor leader supports law reform and is inclined to vote in favour of the Bill, subject to amendments that reflect his concerns. These are, therefore, likely to be soothed by the Speirs amendments.

If they are not, some Liberals are itching to deploy abortion as a political weapon against Mr Malinauskas. The Liberals are acutely aware that abortion, in particular, puts Mr Malinauskas in a difficult bind.

Does he reject his patron, Labor Senator Don “The Godfather” Farrell – a devout Catholic – to vote in favour of the Termination of Pregnancy Bill? Or does he risk alienating many of Labor’s supporters, particularly women, who would consider abortion reform a touchstone issue, and vote against?

Quandary: Oppostion Leader Peter Malinauskas. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Kelly Barnes

Either way, there is a difficult choice. The Liberals are prepared to unleash social media hell for Mr Malinauskas if he votes against abortion reform, targeting swing voters in battleground electorates like Adelaide and Elder (inner southern suburbs).

“If he votes against abortion we will target young women voters. There will be a strong plan to very firmly portray him as a leader who’s out of step with young people,” a Liberal strategist said.

For a non-political view, a SA Law Society briefing is instructive, declaring the reform not radical but “an evidence-based modernisation of outdated laws”.

“The Society considers, upon examining the available evidence, that the decriminalisation Bill is not likely to have a material impact on the number of abortions conducted in SA, as abortions can already be procured lawfully, and late-term abortions are rare.”