Primary Industries Minister Clare Scriven along with Liberal MLC Ben Hood and Liberal shadow spokesperson for regional South Australia, primary industries, water resources and the River Murray Nicola Centofanti all attended the inaugural winter ball held by anti-abortion march organisers Love Adelaide on the weekend.

“I was invited and enthusiastically accepted the invite to attend the Love Adelaide Ball. They are an organisation that supported me when I actively rallied against the legalisation of late-term abortion in this state,” Centofanti said.

“Polling performed at the time of the debate showed that most South Australians were not in favour of late-term abortion.”

One Nation MLC Sarah Game was also thanked by Love Adelaide for being at the ball along with Liberal Senator Alex Antic, formerly the South Australian Liberal Party vice president.

He is currently co-sponsoring a Children Born Alive Bill in the Federal Parliament with the keynote speaker at the ball, Victorian United Australia Party MLC Ralph Babet, who was pictured with Game at the event.

Babet described Love Adelaide as “a thriving organisation that advocates for the life of unborn babies and their mothers”.

Other politicians are linked to the groups’ growing online profiles including former Labor minister Tom Kenyon who appears on one of the Love Adelaide “walk for life” promotional videos.

Clare Scriven has addressed the Love Adelaide group’s event previously but said she was unable to attend the walk this year.

Love Adelaide is also linked to the Enid Lyons List organisation that was established in Adelaide to support anti-abortion MPs and community leaders after the new Termination of Pregnancy Act (SA) was introduced in South Australia in 2021, decriminalising abortion care in this state.

The Act also means abortion can be performed by one medical practitioner up to 22 weeks and six days gestation. After that a medical practitioner can perform an abortion after consultation with another practitioner and if both agree the procedure is “medically appropriate”.

This Act also gives access to prescription via telehealth for women up to nine weeks pregnant, advocates saying this is particularly important for those living in remote and rural regions.

A screenshot from the Love Adelaide site. Photo: Facebook

Enid Lyons List was jointly launched by university Doctor of Law Joanna Howe, with the group saying on its website that it provides “financial, political and personal support for pro-life women to be well-placed as leaders in their community through mentorship and leadership training”.

Enid Lyons List homepage informs readers wanting to join that they “may also receive messages from Love Adelaide”.

The group is named after Lyons, a pioneering former federal politician described by the organisation’s website as “a passionate advocate for the human rights of unborn babies, children and their mothers.

“At a rally in Brisbane against an abortion reform bill in 1973, she argued, ‘Abortion is a matter of life and death. There is no justification for it despite the emotional arguments to support it’,” the site said.

Opposition Leader David Spiers was listed on a panel at a young Enid Lyons List youth training day at Thebarton Community Centre in July last year along with “key pro-life leaders and trailblazers” but did not attend, he was later reported as saying this did not indicate that he is against the decriminalisation of abortion.

Speirs was reported as saying he thought abortion should be decriminalised and had said that on the public record.

Other MPs to be connected with the group include Labor small business minister Andrea Michaels, Liberal MLC Heidi Girolamo, Centofanti and Scriven being listed as special guest panellists in March last year at the inaugural Enid Lyons List reception and awards event in Adelaide.

Michaels declined to comment when asked questions about her involvement with Enid Lyons List and whether she supported their work.

While Centofanti did not answer questions about whether she is involved in Enid Lyons List, she said while she did not attend the Love Adelaide walk this year she had in previous years “and have been proud to do so”.

“As a leader, I remain focussed on protecting the vulnerable and ensuring that both lives are considered carefully.”

Ben Hood posted a note on his Facebook account saying that while he was not in parliament during the Termination of Pregnancy Bill in 2021, “I am grateful that members of parliament such as my good friend and colleague Nicola Centofanti were”.

“With support from Love Adelaide and other organisations and individuals, Nicola and many other MPs fought hard for amendments to improve this legislation,” he said.

A Love Adelaide post from earlier this month said: “How is it possible that anyone could ever defend abortion, an action that kills an innocent pre-born child? The reason abortion became “debatable” was because activists intentionally twisted language to mask the violent, deadly reality they are promoting.”

When asked if she is working with Enid Lyons List to mentor young people who may want to enter politics, Clare Scriven said she is not directly mentoring young people at present.

“(However) I always encourage active participation in the political process of anyone who is passionate about making our communities stronger and our state an even better place to live,” she said.

“Love Adelaide’s work includes assisting women and families with unplanned pregnancies, including with material support when needed, which I support. There is an increased understanding that women require support should they choose to keep their baby.”