Huge crowds are at the steps of SA’s Parliament House for a pro-life abortion rally

The pro-life crowd turned out amid a controversial new bid by a Liberal MP to ban later-term abortions.

Large crowds gathered at the steps of South Australia’s Parliament House, for a pro-life rally in support of a controversial Bill to ban later-term abortions.

The rally kicked off at 5pm on Wednesday, and about 11 police officers were stationed along North Tce to overlook the growing crowd.

Organisers of the event said about 2500 people attended.

The steps were lined with individual numbers from one to 45 and a small teddy bear in front of each number to represent the 45 late-term pregnancies that were terminated after 23 weeks since July 2022.

Conservative Liberal MLC Ben Hood introduced the amendments to the upper house on Wednesday.

Rally organisers said about 2500 activists gathered for the demonstration.

Under the changes, women who choose to terminate their pregnancy after 28 weeks would be forced to deliver the baby alive, and either keep the baby or put the child up for adoption.

Speaking at the rally Mr Hood said he feared “most South Australians” do not know the full extent of pregnancy terminations practices in the state.

“What this Bill does is strike a balance. It is a balance between the lawful right to choose, but it is (also) a balance about the right to life of a healthy viable baby,” he said.

“There is nothing more important than (for us) to look after our most vulnerable, and our most vulnerable are being terminated.”

Currently, late-term terminations are only allowed in cases where there is a threat to the life of the mother or ­another fetus, there is significant risk of serious fetal anomalies, or there is significant risk to the health of the mother. SA Health data showed fewer than five abortions were performed after 27 weeks since abortion was decriminalised in South Australia in 2022, and there were no terminations after 29 weeks.

Protesters also held 45 pink and blue balloons, while others held signs reading: “Imagine killing a healthy baby?”.

University of Adelaide professor and pro-life activist Joanna Howe spoke at the rally, calling for campaigners to attend another on Thursday outside Premier Peter Malinauskas’s office.

Mr Hood’s bill is not expected to secure the 11-vote majority required to progress to the lower house.

MLCs who have said they will support the bill are Liberals Nicola Centofanti, Heidi Girolamo, Laura Henderson and Dennis Hood, along with One Nation’s Sarah Game and independent Frank Pangallo.

Labor MPs said they expected government members Clare Scriven and Tung Ngo would also vote in favour.

Originally published as Huge crowds are at the steps of SA’s Parliament House for a pro-life abortion rally