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Family First backs South Australian push to protect babies from late-term abortion

Family First Party

Family First National Director Lyle Shelton has welcomed the introduction of a bill into the South Australian Parliament to protect the lives of babies from late term abortion.

 

The Termination of Pregnancy (Restrictions on Terminations after 24 weeks and 6 days) Amendment Bill 2026 was introduced by South Australian MLC Sarah Game.

 

Pro-life advocate Dr Joanna Howe accurately describes the killing process in a late term abortion:

 

“These poor babies have been injected with potassium chloride in the heart and delivered intentionally stillborn. This is not healthcare. It’s murder and it has no place in a just and humane society.”

 

Family First agrees and will push for protections for unborn babies as it campaigns to elect pro-life candidates at the up-coming Victorian and New South Wales elections.

 

Mr Shelton said Ms Game’s bill was a compassionate and urgently needed reform to protect viable unborn babies while still allowing medical treatment in emergency situations and to save the life of the mother.

 

“The group behind Australia’s biggest pro-life march, Love Australia, has been campaigning for these changes from the day Liberal Attorney-General Vicki Chapman introduced her abortion-to-birth bill in 2019. We are proud to support them now and we urge all members of parliament to vote for these reasonable and urgent reforms,” Mr Shelton said.

 

Mr Shelton said modern neonatal care had dramatically improved survival rates for babies born prematurely and parliamentarians could no longer ignore the humanity of babies in the womb after 25 weeks.

 

“South Australians are rightly disturbed by reports that more than 100 late-term abortions have occurred since abortion to birth laws were enacted in 2022,” he said.

 

“Babies at this stage of development can survive outside the womb with proper medical care. Laws should reflect both medical reality and basic human compassion.”

 

Mr Shelton said Family First was pleased to align with the coalition of community groups supporting the legislation, including Australia Life, Australian Christian Lobby, Love Australia, Family Voice, Tradies for Babies, Enid Lyons List and Bird Flip.

 

He said Family First would pursue similar reforms if elected to the New South Wales and Victorian parliaments at the upcoming state elections.

 

“Family First candidates will push for measures that protect unborn children and provide greater support for mothers facing pressure to abort from boyfriends, husbands or other family members,” Mr Shelton said.

 

“Too often women are told abortion is their only option when what they really need is practical support, encouragement and protection from coercion.

 

“A civilised society should support both mother and child.”

 

Mr Shelton urged MPs from all parties to put politics aside and support the South Australian bill.

 

“Every parliamentarian should carefully consider whether a healthy, viable baby deserves legal protection simply because he or she remains in the womb,” he said.

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