This week saw the narrow defeat in the South Australian Parliament of the Hood bill that would have made illegal the lethal injection of babies post 28 weeks in the womb.
Family First strongly supported the Bill, and its loss by a single vote reinforces the urgent need for a Family First candidate to be elected at the 2026 election.
It’s important to recognise that as hard as we tried, we were not able to convince a majority of members of the Legislative Council to support the bill.
WATCH: Lyle Shelton interviews Ben Hood MLC about the Live Births Bill
It is not accurate, as has been suggested, that former Family First MP, Dennis Hood, betrayed the pro-life movement or failed to support the Bill.
He honoured a commitment that had been given to allow a Michelle Lensink, who is suffering cancer, to have her vote be ‘paired’.
This is a longstanding Parliamentary convention which meant she would not be required to attend in person. (This arrangement is recorded in the Parliamentary proceedings.)
If the pair had not been honoured, Ms Lensink would have come into the Parliament and ensured the defeat of the Bill.
Significant harm to the pro-life cause would have ensued from a breach of trust.
An attack on a MP with an impeccable record of standing up for the unborn, only provides comfort to our opponents.
Family First strongly urges all people of goodwill to unite to elect pro-life candidates at the 2026 South Australian election, so we can build upon the work that has been done.