Pro-abortion rally at Parliament House supports Pregnancy Termination Bill without amendments

Senator Penny Wong has urged state colleagues to support an abortion law reform, adding her voice to hundreds of pro-choice protesters who gathered on Saturday.

The “Stand Up for Safe Abortion Care” gathering at Parliament House on Saturday. Picture: Mike Burton

Political heavyweight Penny Wong is urging her Labor state colleagues to support abortion law reform without amendments.

Her call came as more than 300 pro-choice protesters rallied at Parliament House on Saturday.

A coalition of 32 health, legal and community organisations has called on MPs to back the Pregnancy Termination Bill, particularly its provisions for abortion care later in pregnancy.

The controversial Bill is due to be debated in the Lower House this week. It aims to decriminalise abortion in South Australia and regulate it under health laws, in line with other states.

“I urge all my Labor colleagues to show they trust women to make their own choices and pass this Bill unamended,” Senator Wong said.

“To do otherwise is to submit to deceitful fear campaigns and walk away from Labor’s tradition of being the party of modern Australia.”

MPs will be allowed to cast a conscience vote on the Bill.

Stand Up for Safe Abortion Care Gathering at Parliament House, Adelaide, on Saturday. Picture: Mike Burton

A spokesman said Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas wanted to support the Bill and was waiting to see any amendments before deciding whether to vote for or against them.

The Bill regulates abortion after 22 weeks and six days with the involvement of two health practitioners and if it is deemed the termination is “medically appropriate”.

Currently in SA, abortion is not illegal if performed before 28 weeks and involves two qualified medical practitioners satisfied that maternal health or foetal disability grounds are met.

The group of 32 signatories, including the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, have warned MPs the Bill must pass untouched.

“The Bill promotes the autonomy, dignity and wellbeing of patients who need to end a pregnancy by providing a pathway to a more compassionate reproductive health­care system,” they say in an open letter led by Fair Agenda and the South Australian Abortion Action Coalition (SAAAC).

Jessica Grassen and Rutendo Maringa hold signs at the rally.

Emily Gore holds a sign at the rally.

At the rally, Labor MP Katrine Hildyard said the Bill was shaped by advice from the state’s leading medical experts and most trusted legal minds.

She said it “must be passed as it is drafted and without wanton interference”.

Greens MLC Tammy Franks, who has advocated legal abortion reform for years, said the current laws were a barrier to abortion, particularly for regional and rural women and international students, and were a national “disgrace”.

Ms Franks said concerns over the Bill were being fuelled by an anti-abortion movement pressuring MPs to water down proposed reforms through “mistruths” and distrust of women and medical professionals.

The rally was organised by SAAAC. Last weekend, a Walk for Life rally attracted about 4000 people opposing the Bill.

“Parliamentarians should feel confident that the majority of South Australians will support those who support women and patients to access the reproductive health services they need, when they need them,” said Barbara Baird, co-convener of the SA Abortion Action Coalition (SAAAC).

She said anti-abortionists proposing amendments to the Bill threatened to set back abortion care by half a century.

“We urge MPs not to be taken in by scare campaigns and misinformation that would suggest otherwise,” she said.

Four-year-old Elektra at the rally with with her mother Irene Govas, who said: “I’m still astonished that in 2021 abortion is still a criminal act.”