Anti-abortion campaigner Joanna Howe has sparked a political firestorm after labelling former South Australian deputy premier Vickie Chapman a “witch” during a podcast episode.
On her Dr Jo Show, Howe and her husband James referred to Chapman as a “witch”, with Howe adding, “we put her in the baby killers club”.
Clash at Liberal Women's Council meeting
The comments follow a clash at the Liberal Women’s Council annual general meeting on August 3, where Howe was a guest speaker alongside conservative Senator Alex Antic, who is expected to become the next state president of the SA Liberal Party.
Tensions erupted when Chapman objected to the event being filmed, arguing it was not a public event. Her bid to stop filming was rejected, marking the first time cameras were allowed inside the council’s gathering. Several members, including Chapman, walked out.
“In 50-odd years I’ve been working in the Liberal Party, known any other meetings to be filmed,” she said.
Political condemnation
South Australian Education Minister Lucy Hood condemned the podcast remarks on Thursday, calling them “disgusting” and saying the situation had “reached a new level”.
“It’s unacceptable to call a pioneering woman of the Liberal Party a witch,” she said.
Howe rejected the criticism, claiming she has spoken at Labor events over the years, including functions attended by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
“I didn’t use the term witch as an insult ... in western folklore, a witch is someone who loves killing babies and children,” she said.
Opposition response
Deputy Opposition Leader Josh Teague said, “I don’t support the remarks that have been reported. The leader’s been very clear about not supporting those comments.”
The opposition accused Labor of only calling out personal attacks when there’s political advantage, pointing to silence when its own MP Nat Cook was targeted by Howe earlier this year. Cook was filmed being repeatedly asked for an interview by Howe at a pre-poll booth.
“I didn’t see Lucy Hood there defending her colleague,” Teague said.
Background
Howe holds a PhD in migration law, previously worked for the Australian Workers Union, and was a paid-up member of SA Labor until she was expelled after campaigning against it during the 2026 election. She remains banned from attending SA Parliament galleries.
She has become one of South Australia’s most prominent anti-abortion campaigners, backing Family First MLC Sarah Game’s 2026 abortion bill, which passed the upper house but was rejected 36 to nine in the lower house.
Chapman retired from politics in 2022 after a two-decade career, becoming the first female deputy leader of the Liberal Party and serving as attorney-general under former premier Steven Marshall.
