Anti-abortion advocate Joanna Howe banned from South Australia’s upper house for alleged ‘threatening’ tactics towards politicians

Upper house president Terry Stephens says of highest concern' is suggestion Howe attempted to improperly influence the free performance' of MLCs' duties

• Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast

The anti-abortion activist Joanna Howe has been banned from South Australia's upper house after its president revealed in parliament that he had received several complaints from MLCs alleging she had used insults and threatening and intimidating tactics" towards politicians during a debate about the state's controversial forced birth" legislation.

The legislation, if passed, would have meant any South Australian seeking an abortion after 27 weeks and six days, would instead be induced, give birth, then either keep or adopt out the child.

Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email