Liberal MLC Jing Lee apologises to Michelle Lensink for reneging on deal ahead of vote on late-term abortion law amendments

Under parliamentary privilege Liberal MLC Jing Lee put on record what she says was a night of intimidation, pressure and fear. “As I've never experienced anything like it before, I went into a panic mode, my mind went blank and was blinded by fear.” In the lead up to a vote on a controversial bill brought by Liberal MP Ben Hood seeking to change South Australia's abortion laws. Ms. Lee says she had an unexpected encounter in parliament with a persistent visitor she had never met before. “The encounter with this external visitor made me feel very vulnerable on the night, I wasn't thinking clearly, and was put into a compromising situation.” She reneged on an agreement to abstain from voting to even the numbers with colleague Michelle Lensink who's undergoing treatment for breast cancer. “I made an unthinkable decision under pressure because I had a grave concern about my Upper House preselection arising out of the various media reports.” Ms. Lee is the only moderate Liberal in the Upper House up for re-election in 2026. She has apologised to Ms. Lensink who made a desperate, late-night dash to parliament amid the debate before another colleague agreed to be her pair and the vote was defeated. Following her remarks the Premier took aim at the Liberal leader Vincent Tarzia. “What sort of show and outfit is the alternate government of the state when women are feeling as though... or any member of parliament, for that matter, is feeling as though her pre-selection is going to be compromised is she honours a pair with someone suffering from breast cancer from her own side!” In a statement, Mr Tarzia says Ms Lee has his full support and he does not tolerate bullying, adding "no person should feel unsafe or intimidated in their workplace."