Liberal MLC Jing Lee says she was left ‘blindsided by fear’ in lead-up to vote on controversial abortion reform legislation

Liberal MP Jing Lee has explained why she abandoned a deal with her sick colleague during debate over controversial abortion reform legislation.

Liberal MP Jing Lee says “grave concern” for her preselection led her to abandon a deal with her sick colleague before a vote on controversial abortion reform legislation.

Premier Peter Malinauskas is now calling on Opposition Leader Vincent Tarzia to investigate who in the Liberal Party was behind the preselection threat, which he labelled “reprehensible”.

Breaking her silence two weeks after the drama played out, Ms Lee told the upper house she was “deeply sorry” for her “unthinkable” last-minute decision to withdraw from a pair agreement she had with Michelle Lensink, who is battling breast cancer.

Ms Lee said events in the lead-up to the vote left her feeling unsafe, unsupported, panicked and ultimately “blindsided by fear” – and she is continuing to feel the effects of trauma and anxiety.

MLC Jing Lee. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

MLC Michelle Lensink. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Roy VanDerVegt

“What people may not realise was my unexpected encounter with a very persistent visitor,” Ms Lee said in a speech on Wednesday afternoon.

“The encounter with this external visitor made me feel very vulnerable on the night. I wasn’t thinking clearly and was put into a compromising situation.

“I made an unthinkable decision under pressure because I had a grave concern about my upper house preselection arising out of various media reports.”

An emotional Ms Lee, who reneged on the pair to cast a vote in support of the bill, said she had gone into “panic mode” in the hours before the October 16 vote.

“It was a horrible experience for me and I hope no other members of parliament should ever have to go through this type of ordeal,” she said.

“Bullying, harassment and intimidation by external parties as well as those working in this place is not appropriate or acceptable under any circumstances.”

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.

Ms Lee’s withdrawal forced Ms Lensink, who is on long-term sick leave, and her young son to make a late-night dash to Parliament House in an Uber.

But, at the last minute, fellow Liberal Dennis Hood agreed to step in and act as pair.

The bill, which had been introduced by Liberal MLC Ben Hood and would have required women seeking abortions after 28 weeks to deliver their babies alive, was then defeated 10-9.

Mr Malinauskas, who responded to Ms Lee’s speech during lower house question time, said her experience highlighted “a crisis at the heart of the alternate government of this state”.

“When someone is having their preselection threatened, not on the substantial matter of the bill but having their preselection threatened on whether or not they honour a pair of a colleague ... suffering cancer, then something is seriously wrong,” he said.

“South Australians have a right to be concerned about what forces are infiltrating the Liberal Party.”

Mr Tarzia said Ms Lee has his full support, and he does not tolerate bullying or intimidation of any kind.

“No person should feel unsafe or intimidated in their workplace,” he said.

“I understand the (upper house) president will be making a statement to the parliament before the end of the sitting week concerning external visitors.

“The parliament must be a workplace in which all members are able to do their job free from harassment and intimidation.

Originally published as Liberal MLC Jing Lee says she was left ‘blindsided by fear’ in lead-up to vote on controversial abortion reform legislation