Liberal MP Nicola Centofanti says late-term abortion could become ‘routine’ under Termination Pregnancy Bill

A Liberal MP who says she fears late-term abortions may become routine has been told how rare the procedure is.

Routine late-term abortions were among the concerns raised as new state laws to decriminalise abortion inched closer in South Australia on Thursday.

The second reading of the Termination Pregnancy Bill advanced today to be analysed clause by clause in parliament next week.

The Bill, sponsored by Attorney-General Vickie Chapman, would allow termination after 22 weeks and six days with the approval of two medical practitioners if medically appropriate.

Under current laws, an abortion can occur up to 28 weeks under the same conditions, and over that gestational ceiling if the mother’s life is at risk.

Liberal MP Nicola Centofanti. Picture: Facebook

Labor MP Nicola Centofanti said her greatest worry was removal of a gestational abortion limit and flagged moving an amendment to address this: “While in some extenuating medical circumstances late-term abortions are necessary, they should never become routine.”

Health Minister Stephen Wade said the Bill would give country women equitable access to abortion, and not increase abortion rates, referring to similar law reform experiences in New South Wales, Queensland and ACT.

He revealed the state’s latest-term abortion in the past 20 years was at 27 weeks in 2009, and was an example of how “very rare” late-term procedures were in SA.

Ms Chapman said: “Extensive consultation was undertaken with clinicians, health associations, and faith groups when drafting this Bill, and it has the support of the South Australian Law Society and Australian Medical Association.”

On Wednesday, new laws were passed to create a 150-metre exclusion zone from the entrance of abortion service facilities, making protesting within that area illegal.

Western Australian remains the only jurisdiction without similar legislation