Posted: 2024-10-23 07:45:45

The University of Adelaide is standing by one of its top academics after she posted to social media labelling several politicians and pro-choice advocates 'baby killers'.

The senior law lecturer took to social media last week saying the seven women, including Child Protection Minister Katrine Hildyard and Deputy Premier Susan Close, are members of a "Baby Killers Club".

The post consists of illustrations of the women that appear to mimic The Baby Sitters Club — a popular children's novel series.

Dr Howe — who helped MP Ben Hood draft the proposed amendments to abortion laws — posted the images online last week, after the bill was voted down by the state's upper house.

The amendments would have required women seeking to terminate a pregnancy from 28 weeks to instead undergo an induced birth, with the option for the baby to then be adopted.

A screenshot of a post that includes The Baby Killers Club in the font for the book Babysitters Club

Dr Joanna Howe's social media posts named seven women as members of the "The Baby Killers Club". (Supplied: Joanna Howe)

Under legislation passed in 2021, a pregnant person can get a late-term abortion after 22 weeks and six days if it is deemed medically appropriate and approved by two doctors.

SA Health previously told the ABC that in the first 18 months since the legislation was implemented, "there were less than five terminations performed after 27 weeks and no terminations after 29 weeks".

A University of Adelaide spokesperson said no disciplinary action had been taken against Dr Howe and said "everyone holds the right to freedom of speech, within the boundaries of the law".

"In their personal capacity, academic staff are entitled to share and publish their research findings and may lawfully comment publicly on any topic," the spokesperson said.

However, a representative of the university's student union YouX, said Dr Howe's views were "out of touch" and that "she does not speak for the women" of the university.

"It is unacceptable, and dangerous, that Joanna Howe continues to exploit her professional title as a Professor of Migration Law to give herself false credibility," women's officer of the student representative council, Valeria Caceres Galvez, said.

"The 'Baby Killers Club' post is a dangerous attempt to direct vitriol towards female politicians. 

"What we should be focusing on is the serious threat that Ben Hood's bill posed to the lives of South Australian women."

Professor Katina D'Onise AM, who is depicted in one of the posts, said abortion discussion should be left to "scientific evidence and good public policy".

"It should not be on the proponents on either side of the debate," she said.

Dr Howe's post also included illustrations of Associate Professor Barbara Baird, Liberal MP Michelle Lensink, Greens MP Tammy Franks and former Attorney General Vicky Chapman.

Woman with short hair smiling wearing a teal jumper

Professor D'Onise says the discussion of abortion laws should be left to scientific discusssion. (ABC News: Ben Pettitt)

Ms Chapman said she would be seeking her own legal advice about the post.

Ms Franks said she believed Dr Howe wanted the people depicted in the posts to sue her "for attention".

"This is a woman who is clearly an attention seeker," she said.

"However, she has the right to say whatever she thinks and I have the right to think she's wrong."

Ms Lensink also expressed outrage at the post, and said Dr Howe "needs to accept that the majority of South Australian women do not agree with her".

A woman smiles.

Tammy Franks is one of the women targeted in the social posts. (ABC News: Che Chorley)

"Stooping to uncivilised behaviour will not change anyone's opinion," she said.

"She has already wasted too much of the parliament's time on laws which will never pass".

Dr Howe told the ABC she was motivated to make the post "to expose the fact that if you are for lethally injecting a child in the third trimester, when that child could be delivered alive instead of still born, then you are a member of that club that seeks to kill babies".

"It's an extreme position to take," she said.

Dr Howe said she was not concerned about defamation and stood by her post, which she said would be the first in a series of many.

"I think if people feel it's defamatory then they should put their money where their mouth is and sue me," she said.

"I, 100 per cent, stand by the claim that is made in the imagery and verbiage around the club."

Ms Hildyard, Ms Close and Dr Baird declined to comment.

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