South Australian anti-abortion activist posts image of aborted foetus she claims was taken at Townsville hospital

Joanna Howe says a ‘whistleblower’ sent her the image, which she says was taken inside the hospital’s room for grieving parents

Tory Shepherd
Thu 5 Feb 2026

Townsville hospital is investigating an alleged privacy breach after anti-abortion activist Joanna Howe said a “whistleblower” had sent her an image containing distressing and sensitive abortion content.

Howe posted a video on social media that included a picture of a 16-week-old foetus that she said was taken inside the hospital’s Butterfly Room, a place for grieving parents, saying “Samuel” was “born alive” after an abortion.

No evidence was given to support that claim and Howe has been contacted for comment. Multiple health experts have previously said claims by anti-abortion activists that large numbers of babies are “born alive” after abortions are misleading, including in evidence to a state and federal parliamentary inquiry.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/feb/05/anti-abortion-activist-joanna-howe-foetus-photo-ntwnfb

05.02.2026

Dr Nisha Khot

Joanna Howe

Kieran Keyes

Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

Australia – Anti-abortion activist Joanna Howe claims University of Adelaide gave her immunity from complaints by pro-choice campaigners

The university, which employs Howe as a law professor, states that it ‘considers each matter on its merits’

Tory Shepherd
Thu 27 Nov 2025

A prominent anti-abortion campaigner, who was banned from the South Australian parliament and accused of bullying, claims her employer has granted her immunity from complaints from anyone who is pro-choice.

Anti-abortion activist Joanna Howe, who has pledged to make abortion “unthinkable”, says the University of Adelaide, which employs her as a law professor, has agreed that those with ideologically opposed viewpoints to hers will be deemed “vexatious”, and any complaints they make about her will not be acted upon.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/nov/27/anti-abortion-activist-joanna-howes-claims-her-employer-gave-her-immunity-from-complaints-by-pro-choice-campaigners-ntwnfb

27.11.2025

SA attorney general refers anti-abortion activist Joanna Howe’s fundraiser ‘game’ for investigation

Bingo card-style game, where supporters encouraged to ‘buy’ words and phrases linked to contentious abortion bill, condemned by crossbench MLCs as a ‘grift’ that trivialised debate

Tory Shepherd
Thu 13 Nov 2025

A “fun little game” launched by the anti-abortion activist Joanna Howe to raise funds during an emotional debate over late-pregnancy abortion in South Australia has been referred for investigation.

Howe, who has worked with conservative politicians to introduce various state and federal bills to water down abortion rights, said the bingo card-style game was a fundraiser for an anti-abortion war chest.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/nov/13/joanna-howe-anti-abortion-activist-sa-attorney-general-ntwnfb

13.11.2025

anti-choice hatred

anti-choice misogyny

Ben Hood

bingo card game on abortion

Bill to restrict abortions later in pregnancy defeated in South Australia after emotional debate

Amendment would have watered down law to allow abortion only where it would save life of mother or another foetus, or for significant risk of abnormalities

Tory Shepherd
Thu 13 Nov 2025

A bill to restrict access to abortion after 22 weeks and six days has been defeated in the South Australian parliament.

The former One Nation MLC Sarah Game, who is now an independent, worked with the controversial anti-abortion activist Joanna Howe on the legislation that went before the SA parliament on Wednesday night.

It was voted down by 11 votes to eight.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/nov/13/south-australia-abortion-bill-restrict-late-term-defeated-voted-down

Abortion legislation voted down in South Australian Parliament

By Eva Blandis, Kathryn Bermingham
Nov 12, 2025

A new push to change South Australia's abortion laws to limit terminations after 23 weeks has been voted down in state parliament's upper house.

The vote was carried out at 9pm, with 11 members voting against and eight members voting for.

Upper House MP Sarah Game, an independent formerly of One Nation, launched the bill in September to place limits on abortions after 23 weeks.

Continued: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-12/sa-abortion-voted-down/106001338

12.11.2025

New threat to abortion access in SA

Less than a year after a move to restrict abortion access was narrowly defeated in South Australia, a similar bill is set to be introduced to parliament.

08 September 2025

By Holly Payne

For the second time in 12 months, South Australia’s GP community has come out against proposed restrictions on abortion in the state.

In October last year, SA’s upper house voted down a bill from Liberal MP Ben Hood which would have forced women seeking a termination of pregnancy after 28 weeks to undergo an induced birth and deliver their baby alive.

Continued: https://www.medicalrepublic.com.au/new-threat-to-abortion-access-in-sa/119720

08.09.2025

AUSTRALIA – Upper House MP Sarah Game launches new push to change SA abortion laws

Exclusive by Kathryn Bermingham
Thursday 4 September

A renewed push to place new restrictions on abortion access in South Australia is set to be introduced to parliament, less than a year after the last debate over the state's pregnancy termination laws.

Upper House MP Sarah Game, an independent formerly of One Nation, will introduce a bill to place new limits on abortions after 23 weeks.

Continued: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-05/sarah-game-introduces-new-abortion-bill-amendments/105734080

Hate over love: conservative influencers have brought angrier anti-abortion politics to Australia

May 27, 2025
Prudence Flowers

After two decades of abortion decriminalisation across Australian states and territories, there has been a sudden surge of anti-abortion activity online, in the streets and in parliaments.

Since 2022, right-to-life bills were introduced federally and in Queensland and were voted on in South Australia. During the 2024 Queensland state election, one politician vowed to introduce a conscience vote on abortion to return it to criminal law.

Continued https://theconversation.com/hate-over-love-conservative-influencers-have-brought-angrier-anti-abortion-politics-to-australia-257444

UK – State and federal MPs describe death threats and vile abuse in wake of Joanna Howe’s anti-abortion campaign

Representatives around the country say third parties sent abusive messages after they were targeted for their stance on abortion

Tory Shepherd
Wed 21 May 2025

State and federal MPs around the country say they and their staff have received death threats from third parties amid controversy generated by the self-described “assertiveness” of the anti-abortion activist Joanna Howe.

Howe, an expert in migration law at the University of Adelaide, has campaigned for anti-abortion laws in various state parliaments, and this month organised a rally – attended by the former prime minister Tony Abbott – against NSW reforms to improve access to services. She said on social media people “need to be hysterical” about the bill, which represented what she called “an extreme, radical takeover of our country”.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/21/state-and-federal-mps-describe-death-threats-and-vile-abuse-in-wake-of-joanna-howes-anti-abortion-campaign-ntwnfb

Abortion pills to be easier to access after Greens bill passes in NSW despite opposition from Tony Abbott
Legislation brings state in line with others, as opposition leader says he refuses to cave to ‘Americanisation of NSW politics’ after grassroots campaign

Natasha May
Wed 14 May

New South Wales women will have easier access to abortion pills after the state passed a bill allowing nurse practitioners and registered midwives to prescribe the medication.

The bill – which aims to improve access to healthcare for women in rural and regional areas – passed the lower house on Wednesday, despite vocal opposition including by former prime minister Tony Abbott.

Continued; https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/14/nsw-medical-abortion-access-bill-passes-both-houses-ntwnfb