Don’t bring up abortion again, Vincent Tarzia warns Liberal Right
Opposition leader Vincent Tarzia says any Liberal MP who introduces another abortion bill to parliament “won’t be welcome in the shadow cabinet”, labelling the issue a “distraction” in the wake of the party’s loss at the Black by-election.
Tarzia spoke to ABC Radio Adelaide this morning after his party was reduced to just 13 seats in the Lower House over the weekend following Liberal candidate Amanda Wilson’s defeat at the Black by-election.
Saturday night’s count showed an extraordinary 13.3-point swing to Labor candidate Alex Dighton on two-party preferred, with the Liberal Party’s primary vote down 17.8 points.
The Electoral Commission will today begin counting the 8554 early votes cast in Black followed by postal votes on Wednesday. Early and postal votes represent around 38 per cent of enrolled voters in Black.
Saturday’s by-election was triggered by the resignation of former Opposition leader David Speirs in October after revelations he had been arrested and charged with allegedly supplying drugs.
Speirs appeared in court on Friday and has previously vowed to “fight to clear my name of any allegations”.
Tarzia said on Monday that the circumstances that triggered the by-election were “unprecedented” and “certainly damaged our brand”.
“I think voters punished us for it, and we accept that decision,” he told ABC Radio, later adding that the Speirs case was a “significant factor” in the result.
“We had a former leader that was charged with drug supply – obviously, that is not ideal.
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“It played out through the media; the court date was before the by-election. All of these circumstances, they’re not excuses, but it is what it is.”
But Tarzia, a moderate, also sought to distance himself from the Liberal Party’s rightward shift on abortion policy.
Last month, Liberal MLC Ben Hood, a leading figure in the party’s Right faction, introduced a bill to parliament seeking to change some of the progressive reforms to abortion law that passed parliament in 2021.
The bill was defeated by one vote after a night of parliamentary chaos where moderate Liberal MLC Jing Lee – a supporter of Hood’s bill – reneged on a parliamentary pair with fellow moderate Michelle Lensink, prompting Lensink to rush to parliament in an Uber.
Lee later told parliament that she had “grave concerns” for her preselection in the Upper House.
InDaily has previously reported on a potential move by the Right faction to shift Lee to an unwinnable spot on the Liberal Party’s Legislative Council ticket.
Tarzia, who won the Liberal Party leadership in August after getting support from the Right faction, today said the abortion bill “was a distraction, and we won’t be revisiting it under my leadership”.
“We’ve had reviews of this party where we’ve analysed and it’s been delivered that these things are a distraction,” he said.
“If you’re going to have these debates, if they’re to be had earlier in the cycle is one thing, but under my leadership, we won’t be revisiting it.
“It’s done, it’s dusted. The debate’s been had, it’s over.
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“I’ll make it really clear: if anyone makes a private member’s bill like that moving forward, they certainly won’t be welcome in the shadow cabinet or in the cabinet.”
Tarzia added that “the time for those social issues is over” and his 2026 election campaign is about “getting back to basics” on issues like cost of living, health, law and order, environment and housing.
“If people want to present bills as a matter of conscience, outside as private members, I can’t stop them,” he said.
“But I’m saying to them we’ve allowed that in the party – it’s been divisive.
“Look at how we’ve come out, look at how it’s affected the team, and… I’m leading the team into the election, and that’s why I’m focused on the things that matter.”
Hood told InDaily today that he has “no intention of bringing any more private members bills” to parliament.
InDaily understands the Liberal Party will commence a review of its Black by-election defeat led by a senior party figure.
The review is expected to be completed before Christmas.
Meanwhile, Premier Peter Malinauskas today warned the Labor Party against being “complacent” after its triumph in Black, saying “a by-election victory does not mean everything’s perfect”.
He also declined to comment on the reasons behind the result.
“Of course, it is tempting for me to provide an analysis or commentary, but I’m not going to do it,” Malinauskas said.
“The Libs can speak for the Libs, that outfit is there for everyone to see. I don’t need to comment on it.
“Their state of dysfunction is not what the people of South Australia want me focusing on.
“We’ve got to focus on the job at hand, we’ve got a lot to do.”
