Opposition Leader Vincent Tarzia issues warning to Liberal MPs over late-term abortion debate

Opposition Leader Vincent Tarzia has sent a stern warning to any Liberal MP thinking of putting late-term abortion back on the parliamentary agenda.

Opposition Leader Vincent Tarzia has warned that any Liberal MP who puts late-term abortion back on the parliamentary agenda would not be welcome in his shadow cabinet.

Mr Tarzia acknowledged the Liberals’ crushing loss at the Black by-election over the weekend was a “terrible” result, and said the party would now review the outcome, make adjustments and get on with its work.

He said the Liberal campaign had been hindered by the late-term abortion debate that was ignited last month by Liberal MLC and shadow cabinet member Ben Hood.

Opposition Leader Vincent Tarzia. Picture: Russell Millard Photography

Mr Hood introduced a bill that would have required mothers seeking abortions after 28 weeks to deliver their babies alive – but the proposal was defeated in the upper house.

Mr Tarzia, who held a meeting with his shadow cabinet at parliament on Monday, labelled the abortion debate “a distraction”.

“We’ve had party reviews that have told us these conscience issues distract the party from its core business in the lead up to elections,” he said.

“Under my leadership we won’t be revisiting it.”

Liberals MPs were allowed a conscience vote on Mr Hood’s bill, and all but one in the upper house supported the legislation.

However, Mr Tarzia said similar proposals would not be tolerated in the future.

“I’ll make it really clear, if anyone makes a private member’s bill like that moving forward they certainly won’t be welcome in the shadow cabinet or in the cabinet,” he said.

The loss of Black – the seat that had been held by former Liberal leader David Speirs – has left the Liberals with just 13 MPs in the 47-seat House of Assembly, its lowest total since 1930.

At the conclusion of counting on Saturday night, Labor candidate Alex Dighton had polled more than 60 per cent in the two-party preferred result.

Nearly 2500 declaration votes were added to the tally on Monday afternoon, which favoured Mr Dighton 59-41.

Premier Peter Malinauskas said there were “a range of variables” that led to Labor’s overwhelming win – and warned “complacency is a very dangerous commodity in any field”.

“I won’t be having any of it,” he said.

“Government is precious. It comes and goes. It’s a significant privilege that’s been bestowed on whoever is in government ... and it’s a big responsibility.”

On Sunday, Liberal Party leaders held multiple crisis talks as Mr Tarzia vowed to rebuild.

Party modelling, which sparked a major political row after being billed to taxpayers before the poll, is understood to have shown Liberal candidate Amanda Wilson was trailing four to five points pre by-election.

Labor became the first SA state government in 116 years to win a midterm poll in March’s Dunstan by-election after former Premier Steven Marshall quit politics.