Liberal MP furious as party colleague sparks pair drama in chaotic SA abortion bill vote
A Liberal MP is furious with party colleagues after late night drama erupted over what was expected to be a foregone conclusion.
Controversial late-term abortion reforms have been defeated in a dramatic vote that forced a MP on long-term sick leave to make a mad dash to Parliament House.
A scathing Michelle Lensink, who is currently battling breast cancer, said she was misled by parliamentary colleagues with an attempt made to use her absence to pass the bill.
The bill introduced by Liberal Ben Hood, requiring mothers seeking abortions after 28 weeks to deliver their babies alive, was put to a vote just before 10pm on Wednesday.
It is understood Ms Lensink, who has been a vocal opponent of the reforms, had been originally “paired” with fellow Liberal Jing Lee, who spoke in favour of the bill during the debate.
Under pairing arrangements, MPs on leave are paired with present MPs who sit the vote out to ensure the absence does not affect the final result.
However, several MPs told The Advertiser that Ms Lee pulled out of the pair arrangement after the dinner break on Wednesday night – which would have levelled the vote at 10-10.
In that case, President Terry Stephens – a conservative Liberal – would have cast the deciding vote.
After the initial pairing arrangement was revoked, several other MPs who were in favour of the bill were asked to pair Ms Lensink but refused.
As the debate was concluding, Labor MP Russell Wortley filibustered as Ms Lensink and her young son caught an Uber into Parliament House so that she could attend the vote in person.
However, at the last minute, Liberal Dennis Hood agreed to sit the vote out as her pair and the bill was defeated 10-9.
In a post on X after the vote, Ms Lensink said the situation showed “how desperate (and un-Australian) some people are in this debate”.
“I don’t understand what happened tonight, but as someone who thought they had a pair from parliament, I had One Nation’s Sarah Game lie to me on the phone that she would pair me on the termination laws,” she said.
Ms Game said she never committed to be Ms Lensink’s pair and felt there had been a misunderstanding between the two.
She said she spoke to Ms Lensink on the phone briefly during the debate and recognised her right to have a pair, however she was later told a pair was not essential for a conscience vote.
“I did speak to her and express some empathy and understanding for her situation,” Ms Game said.
“The fact of the matter is that people should have a pair generally, that’s the way parliament operates.
“But on a conscience vote and on a vote that was so significant for me and my constituents, I couldn’t be that person to her.”
Pairs are standard in conscience votes but, unlike in a regular vote, the paired members are not always from opposing parties.
That is because, in situations like this where a conscience vote is allowed, MPs do not have to vote along party lines.
Attorney-General Kyam Maher said the situation that unfolded was unprecedented.
“Tonight’s action in the Legislative Council, the withdrawing of a previously agreed pair, is the most dishonourable thing I’ve ever seen in my time in the Legislative Council,” he said.
During earlier debate, Ben Hood said he put forward the bill because “it is right and it is just” – but revealed he has faced extreme backlash from the public.
“There have been death threats,” he said.
“There have been a litany of false claims made against me personally, against this bill and against those that would support it.”
He vehemently denied suggestions that the legislation was politically motivated.
“This is something that is on my heart, this is something that hundreds of people in South Australia have spoken to me about,” he said.
Mr Maher said the bill was a dangerous erosion of women’s rights.
“Put simply, this bill poses a real and significant danger not only to the physical health and safety of all women but to women’s fundamental right to bodily autonomy,” he said.
He said he has been disturbed at the conduct of the debate – in particular the nastiness, vitriol and inflammatory attacks on individuals who are not voting – and urged those responsible to reflect on their behaviour.
Dennis Hood, a supporter of the bill, said he believes if a child is “viable” it has a right to life.
“It will allow them to be brought up by their birth mother or, if that mother so chooses, by loving adoptive parents,” he said.
Ms Game told parliament she would also be supporting the bill, and introduced amendments including a clause mandating that women who terminate their pregnancy after 28 weeks, resulting in a live birth, are offered counselling for two years.
“In a civilised society that values life, women should receive the support and assistance they need to birth and raise their child,” she said.
Pro-choice activists held a demonstration on the steps of parliament in the lead-up to the debate.
Dr Catherine Kevin and Dr Prudence Flowers were among a group who dressed as handmaids to represent women having to relinquish control over their bodies.
“Ben Hood’s bill seeks to seize control of our most vulnerable abortion patients who should be cared for and the current legislation allows them to be care for in very complex situations,” Dr Kevin said.
“We don’t need state representatives seeking to take control of women’s bodies.”
There was a significant police presence outside Parliament House during the parliamentary dinner break but only a handful of people sat on the steps.
Originally published as Liberal MP furious as party colleague sparks pair drama in chaotic SA abortion bill vote
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