“SHOCKING” facts about late-term abortion were presented to a crowd of about 120 people – unanimously pro-life – at a public meeting in Berri last Sunday opposing a controversial SA Bill currently before parliament.
Abortion available “up to birth” and the method of performing abortions on post-23-week babies – heart injections, then inducement of labour or a C-section – were among the confronting topics broached, according to SA director of the Australian Christian Lobby (ACL), Christopher Brohier.
Mr Brohier – whose group supported the community-organised meeting – said the Termination of Pregnancy Bill 2020 allows abortions after 22 weeks and six days if two doctors consider it “medically appropriate”.
However, Mr Brohier claimed the term was without adequat definition and would include physical, mental and psycho-social reasons. He claimed that in Victoria each year an average of 65 babies have their lives terminated after 23 weeks’ gestation “solely for maternal psycho-social reasons”.
Mr Brohier admitted details and first-hand accounts provided at the meeting “shocked many people”.
“Dr Toni Turnbull sensitively but frankly explained that post-23-week abortions involved killing the baby by an injection to its heart and then inducing labor or performing a C-section,” he said.
“Chris Clisby, a post-abortive woman who suffered life-threatening complications from an abortion, movingly spoke of her journey to healing.
“Other women shared testimonies and information about the untold story of abortion trauma.”
The ACL wants the Bill amended to allow abortion after a child is capable of being born alive – generally 23 weeks of gestation – only when it is necessary to save the mother’s life, as is the current law.
Member for Chaffey Tim Whetstone attended the meeting, as did his Liberal Party colleague, Riverland-based Legislative Council Member Nicola Centofanti, who opposes the Bill, introduced to parliament by State Attorney General and Liberal MP Vickie Chapman.
Ms Centofanti closed the meeting by asking attendees to contact their local MPs and all Upper House members to voice their opposition to the ‘abortion to birth’ proposal.
Mr Brohier – a lawyer who once practised in the Riverland – said Ms Centofanti’s request worked, as a “a large number of those who attended” filled out cards addressed to MPs urging them to reject the Bill. The cards will be delivered to State Parliament.
In last week’s Murray Pioneer, Ms Centofanti explained her opposition to late-term abortion.
“We know, as reflected in the Bill, that a baby can survive outside the womb from 22 weeks and six days due to medical advances,” Ms Centofanti said.
“Why then are we relaxing the law to terminate unborn babies at term when we know they can survive from 22 weeks?”