Reason woman banned from South Australia’s parliament

This woman has just been banned from the public galleries of South Australia’s parliament, but she says she’s been unfairly targeted.

The anti-abortion campaigner Dr Joanna Howe has been banned from parts of South Australia’s upper house, with parliament told she allegedly insulted and threatened MLCs and used “intimidating tactics” during a debate about the state’s controversial late-term abortion laws.

The proposed laws, if approved, would have meant that any South Australian who seeks an abortion after 27 weeks and six days would have to be induced, give birth and then choose to either keep the child or put it up for adoption.

The legislation, which was put forward by the Liberal MLC Ben Hood, was defeated 10 votes to nine on 16 October.

Hood said that Dr Howe was the “legal lead” on it during his speech.

The president of South Australia’s Legislative Council, Terry Stephens, addressed the parliament on Thursday, and said: “Of the complaints that have been provided, of the highest concern is the suggestion that the visitor was attempting to improperly influence the free performance by members of their duties.”

He added that the visitor the complaints were made against was Dr Howe, who is a legal professor at the University of Adelaide, and were regarding her behaviour both inside the chamber and in areas adjacent to the Legislative Council chamber.

On Wednesday, the pro-life advocate admitted she had put pressure on one MP, Jing Lee, to back out of a voting deal on the legislation during the debate’s allocated dinner break.

Dr Howe allegedly entered “areas where visitors should not have access unless accompanied by a member of their staff,” Mr Stephens said.

“It was claimed 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 said it was “entirely unacceptable” for visitors to roam the corridors and other areas” and it is “even more unacceptable that any member should feel intimidated or threatened by visitors while carrying out their free performance as a member of the council.”

Prominent pro-life advocate Professor Joanna Howe on South Australia parliament steps. Picture: Matt Turner

He said that guides to parliamentary procedures cite “various examples of attempts of molestation, reflection or intimidation of members in carrying out their duties in the house which can be considered a contempt.

“[Members] must feel safe in carrying out their parliamentary duties and have confidence that they are free to do so without interference, intimidation or undue influence from visitors. In considering these accounts, I have decided that Dr Howe behaved in a manner that did not afford members that right and risked compromising the effective functioning of the chamber.

“As such, I advise the council that Dr Howe will not be permitted to attend the public or president’s galleries of this chamber, nor be permitted to access the areas adjacent to the chamber, such as the corridors, as well as other shared areas in the Legislative Council.”

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

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.

News.com.au has approached Dr Howe for comment.

Dr Howe says the ban came as a complete surprise. Picture: Aaron Francis / The Australian

She said it was a “complete surprise and a shock … that MPs in the parliament could abuse their power and privilege in this way,” she said on ABC Adelaide on Thursday.

“Clearly there is a cabal of pro-abortion MPs in the parliament who want to silence me because they disagree with the … position I take on third trimester abortions,” she added.

“I do not think that I did anything wrong. I refute every allegation that has been made, and I’ll be considering my options in terms of what I can do to challenge it.

“This decision to ban me from the SA parliament will age very, very badly for Terry Stephens and the cabal of pro-abortion MPs.”

On her Instagram stories on Thursday, she added, “How could they wield their power against me in such an arbitrary and unfair way using fabricated charges? I think it’s an insane abuse of power.”

Originally published as Reason woman banned from South Australia’s parliament