Pro-life advocate Professor Joanna Howe banned from SA parliament over claims she insulted, threatened, intimidated MPs

Pro-life advocate Professor Joanna Howe has been banned from parts of state parliament after several complaints from politicians.

Pro-life advocate Professor Joanna Howe has been banned from parts of state parliament over claims she insulted, threatened and intimidated MPs before a vote on controversial abortion reforms.

In what Dr Howe has since called “a gross overreach and miscarriage of justice”, upper house president Terry Stephens said he had decided to impose the ban following several complaints.

“During the division, it was claimed that Dr Howe was observed yelling at the Honourable Dennis Hood to discourage him from vacating the chamber in order to provide a pair for the vote,” Mr Stephens told parliament on Thursday.

“Members have claimed to witness insults and threatening and intimidating tactics employed by Dr Howe towards members.

“It is entirely unacceptable for visitors to roam the corridors and other areas adjacent to the chamber unaccompanied.”

Dr Howe described her ban as a “miscarriage of justice”. Picture: Matt Turner.

Mr Stephens said members must feel safe and have the confidence to do their job “without interference, intimidation or undue influence from visitors”.

“I have decided that Dr Howe behaved in a manner that did not afford members that right and risked compromising the effective function of the chamber,” he said.

He banned Dr Howe from the upper house galleries, as well as corridors and other shared areas around the chamber.

Dr Howe said the decision was “a massive affront to democracy” that should concern every Australian.

She said no complaints or allegations have been put to her, she has not been given a chance to respond, and there has been no investigation.

“In short, both procedural fairness and substantive fairness have been thrown out the window in this case,” she said.

“I call on Premier Peter Malinauskas to show leadership by intervening to stand up for democratic processes in our state.”

But a government spokesman said it was instead a matter for the Liberals.

“This was the champion of a Liberal Party bill, who has been evicted due to her interactions with Liberal MPs by the exclusive decision of the Liberal President of the Legislative Council.”

MLC Jing Lee said she felt “blindsided by fear” before withdrawing from a pair vote on the abortion reform. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

After Mr Stephens’ speech, Mr Hood said he had not lodged any complaint and he did not see the alleged behaviour.

“I was not intimidated by anyone,” he said.

The October 16 abortion vote descended into chaos after Liberal MLC Jing Lee withdrew from a pair agreement with colleague Michelle Lensink, who is on long-term sick leave while she battles breast cancer.

Under pairing arrangements, when an MP is on leave another MP with opposing views will agree to sit out the vote, ensuring the absence does not affect the final result.

At the last minute, fellow Liberal Mr Hood agreed to step in and act as pair and the vote, which would have required women seeking abortions after 28 weeks to deliver their babies alive, was defeated 10-9.

Earlier this week, Ms Lee told the upper house she was “deeply sorry” for her “unthinkable” decision to withdraw from the pair just hours before the vote.

She said events in the lead-up to the vote left her feeling “blindsided by fear” – and she held “grave concern” for her preselection.

“What people may not realise was my unexpected encounter with a very persistent visitor,” she said.

Ms Lee said the encounter made her feel “very vulnerable”, and she was left in a “compromising situation”.

She did not name the visitor but Dr Howe subsequently revealed the pair had spoken during the dinner break that night, when she told Ms Lee she would use her social media platform to hold her accountable for her decision to pair.

Dr Howe said Mr Stephens had leaned on Ms Lee’s statement in his decision to ban her – despite a selfie taken on the night and follow up message from Ms Lee thanking Dr Howe for speaking to her.

“Clear documentary evidence has now come to light … showing that our conversation was cordial and entirely within the bounds of normal democratic processes,” she said.