'It is insulting': Furious female MPs shut down male senator in a scathing letter after he called for proposed law to decriminalise abortion to be scrapped

Two South Australian ministers have written a scathing response to a male colleague who slammed their proposal to decriminalise abortion.

Deputy Premier Vickie Chapman and Human Services Minister Michelle Lensink have introduced a bill to remove abortion from the state's criminal code.

The move would allow a termination after 22 weeks and six days if two doctors say there is a valid medical reason.

Federal senator Alex Antic, who is pro-life, wrote to state Liberal colleagues asking them to vote down the bill.

In a blistering response, the ministers accused him of 'insulting' women by 'assuming he knows best' and sarcastically congratulated the 'junior minister' on finally getting 'press attention'.  

Deputy Premier Vickie Chapman and Human Services Minister Michelle Lensink  have introduced a bill to remove abortion from the state's criminal code 

Currently abortions in South Australia can be illegal if certain conditions are not met. Pictured: Pro-choice demonstrators at a rally last year

Currently abortions in South Australia can be illegal if certain conditions are not met. For example, they must be done in a prescribed hospital or clinic with the approval of two doctors.

In his letter, Mr Antic said his main concern is that abortions will be allowed up to the day before birth.

'The bill seeks to radically change South Australia's current abortion laws under the pretence of "decriminalisation",' he wrote.

'This is a brutal bill which seeks to permit the destruction of a viable foetus... even at 22 weeks and 6 days, a foetus is viable. It has a heartbeat, and it can feel pain. 

'In addition to this, the trauma experienced by those who have been through such a dreadful experience can last a lifetime.'

Ms Chapman and Ms Lensink responded by saying that only 1.8 per cent of abortions in South Australia are carried out after 20 weeks and urged him to stop 'moralising'.

Federal senator Alex Antic in parliament

'It is frankly insulting to women to suggest they would seek a termination after this time for frivolous reasons – not to mention offensive to their doctors – rather than appreciating that the unborn child may have abnormalities that make it incapable of surviving to term or the mother requires chemotherapy to treat cancer,' they wrote.

'You will never need a termination. I sincerely hope you would support a sister, daughter, or friend when she is faced with one of the most difficult decisions of her life, rather than moralising at her and assuming you, for whatever reason, know best.' 

The ministers also sarcastically poked fun at Senator Antic for generating press coverage. 

'Finally, I congratulate you on receiving press attention. I concede it must be difficult as the junior member of the federal team,' they wrote. 

'Next time – just for something different – perhaps it can be for something other than baselessly attacking Liberal Party women in the State Parliament.' 

Introducing the Bill in the Upper House earlier this month, Ms Lensink said: 'In this day and age, it is completely outdated that abortion is still under criminal law.'

Under the Bill, the only criminal offence relating to abortion will be for someone who performs one without being qualified, with a sentence of up to seven years.  

What are the current abortion laws in South Australia? 

Termination of pregnancy is legal under the Criminal Law Consolidation Act only if:

Two medical practitioners have personally examined the pregnant woman and have formed the view in good faith that:

The continuance of the pregnancy would involve greater risk to the life or injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman, than if the pregnancy was terminated, or

There is a substantial risk that if born, the child would suffer from serious physical or mental abnormalities as to be seriously handicapped; and

The procedure is carried out in a prescribed hospital or clinic; and

The pregnant woman has resided in SA for more than two months; and the child is not capable of being born alive

Or if:

The pregnancy is terminated by a medical practitioner in a case where he or she is of the opinion, formed in good faith, that the termination is immediately necessary to save the life, or to prevent grave injury to the physical or mental health, of the pregnant woman; and the child is not capable of being born alive

Or if:

The child is capable of being born alive, the termination is done in good faith for the purpose only of preserving the life of the mother. 

Source: SA Health