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History was made last night.

For decades, pro-life Australians have fought courageously for the unborn.

They have organised rallies, written submissions, contacted MPs, supported good candidates, prayed, donated, and stood firm in the face of setback after setback.

Meanwhile, abortion laws became increasingly radical. In recent years especially, abortion-to-birth legislation has swept across much of Australia.

We’ve been told many times the debate is now over, the laws were settled, and no parliament will ever revisit the issue.

Then came last night.

In an incredible result, the pro-life cause achieved its greatest parliamentary breakthrough in Australian history.

Family First MLC Sarah Game‘s bill, which sought to restore protections for unborn children from 25 weeks’ gestation, passed the South Australian Legislative Council (Upper House).

Tonight in Adelaide we just passed through the SA upper house the first ever prolife bill ever to pass through an Australian house of parliament. It’s humbling to be part of this historic moment, as we move closer to eliminating this scourge from our great country. Even if this… pic.twitter.com/VNvJMiimbb

— Dr Joanna Howe (@ProfJoannaHowe) June 17, 2026

Reversing the Pro-Abortion Trend

Pause for a moment and consider what that means.

Only five years ago, South Australia passed one of the most radical abortion laws in the country.

Those laws were presented as settled. Done and dusted.

Yet last night, a slim majority of parliamentarians said otherwise.

In a narrow 10 votes to 9 result, the bill passed.

Here’s a quick summary of the Legislative Council (Upper House) voting record — with the Legislative Assembly (Lower House) benath:

Family First, 1/1 supported
One Nation, 3/3 supported
Liberal, 4/4 supported (with two more absent due to a pairing arrangement, 1 in favour, 1 against)
Labor, 2/9 supported (with 1 more in the chair)
Greens, 0/2 supported

Quite a telling picture.

Liberal MLC Ben Hood deserves credit for beginning the push with his pro-life bill in 2024, as does Sarah Game for her two bills since, including last night’s.

Major credit also to pro-life advocate Dr Joanna Howe, whose tireless advocacy has helped bring this issue back onto the national agenda.

The two parliamentary games changers that led to this moment, in my opinion, were:

Firstly, rank-and-file Christian and conservative members of the SA Liberal Party preselecting candidates such that a majority of its upper house members consistently vote pro-life.

Secondly, the election in March this year of 3 One Nation MLCs, who all supported the bill. The arrival of these new members narrowly tipped the balance.

The Significance of Passing the Upper House

I suspect many supporters of life are so accustomed to disappointment that they may not fully appreciate the significance of what has occurred.

Great causes rarely achieve success overnight.

When William Wilberforce began his long campaign against the slave trade, he did not begin with victory. He endured defeat after defeat, year after year.

But those setbacks were not the whole story.

Each vote demonstrated that what had once seemed politically impossible was becoming politically possible. Each breakthrough laid the foundation for future success.

Eventually, the tide turned.

Likewise, last night demonstrated that abortion-to-birth laws are not beyond challenge.

It demonstrated that politicians are willing to revisit questions many considered untouchable – and only five years after abortion-to-birth became law.

By the standards of major social reform movements, that is remarkably quick!

I was pleased to join with many AFC supporters who braved the rain and swelled the rally numbers last night. The “105” tally memorialised the 105 lives ended via late term abortion in SA since the 2021 law came into effect. Image: Australian Family Coalition.

Pulling a Swifty on Parliamentary Process

But a ‘swifty’ was also pulled.

Unfortunately, the bill was later defeated in the House of Assembly, 35 votes to 9.

That outcome was disappointing, but hardly unexpected in a house utterly dominated by the incumbent SA Labor Government.

But it’s the circumstances of the debate there that should anger people.

Having passed one house of parliament, many people would reasonably have expected an opportunity to then contact their local lower house MP – especially on an issue of such importance.

Instead, Labor rushed the bill into debate almost immediately – the same night – and it was over in less than two hours. The importance of numbers, yet again.

The Real Story: The Vote That Succeeded

Let’s remember though: the most important event last night was not the vote that failed.

It was the vote that succeeded.

For years, pro-life Australians have largely found themselves fighting to hold the line as protections for unborn children were steadily removed.

Last night was different.

Last night showed that the political momentum surrounding abortion does not have to be one-way.

Last night showed that what is supposedly permanent can be challenged.

And last night showed that the pro-life movement is capable not merely of resisting change, but of advancing its own positive vision for the protection of human life.

That matters far beyond one bill and far beyond one parliament.

This is a rallying call to all states and territories.

Whatever happens next, last night should encourage every Australian who believes that human life deserves protection.

The struggle for great causes is rarely measured by a single vote. It is measured by courage, perseverance, and a refusal to give up when others insist the cause is hopeless.

Last night proved: there is always hope.

If you’re facing an unplanned pregnancy or grieving an abortion, help is available. Please reach out here: https://pregnancyhelpaustralia.org.au/

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Republished with thanks to the Australian Family Coalition.

Image via the Australian Family Coalition.