A South Australian MP is making her third bid to restrict late-term abortions.
A South Australian upper house MP plans to introduce her third bill in under two years to restrict late-term abortions, but local GPs have an advocacy plan of their own.
Upper House MP Sarah Game, formerly of One Nation, wants to ban abortions after 25 weeks unless necessary to save the mother’s life.
SA-based sexual health GP Dr Clare Keogh warned The Medical Republic the proposal may deter vulnerable patients from seeking care.
Ms Game’s two previous attempts, both within the past two years, were defeated in the upper house, as was a separate bill in October 2024 by Liberal MP Ben Hood, which would have required women seeking a termination after 28 weeks to undergo an induced birth and deliver their baby alive.
The announcement follows recent moves in other states.
In NSW, Libertarian MP John Ruddick has introduced a bill aimed at banning sex-selective abortions.
In QLD, the Katter Australian Party has opposed legislation to expand the number of nurses and midwives authorised to administer the medical termination drug MS2-Step.
Dr Clare Keogh, deputy chair of the RACGP SA, said the bill resembles a pattern of legislation seeking to erode reproductive healthcare access.
“We don’t need any more restrictions,” she said.
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Late-term abortions in SA – from 23 weeks – are already governed by robust safeguards, requiring the agreement of two specialist doctors that continuing the pregnancy would pose significant risk to the physical or mental health of the patient if there is a risk of foetal anomalies.
“General practitioners are often the first point of contact for patients navigating complex and sensitive decisions about pregnancy,” Dr Keogh said.
“Our role is to provide non-judgemental, evidence-based advice and care. Legislative interference risks disrupting this therapeutic relationship.”
Even if the bill doesn’t pass, Dr Keogh said the rhetoric it generates could prove dangerous, discouraging patients who require late-term care from seeking help due to stigma or uncertainty about legal risks.
She urged GPs to employ their clinical expertise to engage directly with policymakers, helping them make informed decisions – something she said the RACGP’s advocacy network exists to support.
For Dr Keogh, the real people behind each case make it impossible to treat the issue as abstract policy.
“We already advocate in our consulting rooms every day,” she said.
