{{Short description|Australian activist and legal academic (born 1983)}} {{use dmy dates|date=May 2026}} {{use Australian English|date=May 2026}} '''Joanna Howe''' (born 28 March 1983) is an Australian professor of law at the Adelaide University and anti-abortion activist. An expert in temporary labour migration and an Oxford graduate, Howe is most notable for her campaigning and advocacy against abortion, including supporting legislative proposals in South Australia by Ben Hood and Sarah Game to restrict late-term abortions.
==Early life and education == Joanna Howe was born on 28 March 1983.<ref>{{cite Instagram |last=Howe |first=Joanna |user=drjoannahowe |postid=CqUlvOfDabL |date=28 March 2023 |access-date=18 November 2025 |title=Today is my 40th birthday}}</ref>
After graduating with a Bachelor of Economics (2001–2003) and Law with First Class Honours (2001-2007) at the University of Sydney,<ref name="UoA-bio"/><ref name=dd>{{cite web | title=Dr Joanna Howe, Author at The Daily Declaration | website=The Daily Declaration | date=30 October 2025 | url=https://dailydeclaration.org.au/author/dr-joanna-howe/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250807065717/https://dailydeclaration.org.au/author/dr-joanna-howe/ | archive-date=7 August 2025 | url-status=live | access-date=28 May 2026}}</ref> Howe undertook a one-year M.St. Legal Research at Oxford University in England.<ref name="UoA-bio"/><ref>{{cite web | title=MSt in Legal Research and Socio-Legal Research | website=Faculty of Law | url=https://www.law.ox.ac.uk/content/course/mst-legal-research-and-socio-legal-research | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251208075000/https://www.law.ox.ac.uk/content/course/mst-legal-research-and-socio-legal-research | archive-date=8 December 2025 | url-status=live | access-date=28 May 2026}}</ref> Between 2009 and 2012 she undertook a doctorate of philosophy in law at Oxford, having been awarded a Rhodes Scholarship in New South Wales.<ref name="UoA-bio">{{cite web |title=Professor Joanna Howe |url=https://researchers.adelaide.edu.au/profile/joanna.howe |publisher=The University of Adelaide |access-date=28 May 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260528050340/https://researchers.adelaide.edu.au/profile/joanna.howe |archive-date=28 May 2026 |url-status=live}}</ref>
She is a first-generation immigrant to Australia, having migrated from India.<ref name="Baird et al.-2026">{{cite journal |last1=Baird |first1=Barbara |last2=Flowers |first2=Prudence |last3=Millar |first3=Erica |title='Not the end but just the beginning': historicising anti-abortion politics and the far-right counter-offensive in contemporary Australia |journal=History Australia |date=2026 |pages=1-22 |doi=10.1080/14490854.2026.2652565 |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14490854.2026.2652565 |access-date=19 May 2026|doi-access=free }}</ref> She has referred to South Australia as her "home state".<ref name=mystory/>
== Career == Around 2003, Howe was employed with the Australian Workers' Union in Melbourne, Victoria.{{efn|Not sure how this fits with studying at the University of Sydney - possibly after graduating and before the LLB?<ref name=mystory/>}}<ref name=mystory>{{cite web |title=My Story |url=https://www.drjoannahowe.com.au/my_story |website=Dr Joanna Howe |access-date=18 November 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251118072153/https://www.drjoannahowe.com.au/my_story |archive-date=18 November 2025 |quote=...when I was 21... At the time I was working for the Australian Workers Union in Melbourne and I had the luxury of my own office with a closed door. |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Smith-2025">{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Alexandra |title=How anti-abortion influencer’s MAGA-style campaign fell flat |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/how-anti-abortion-influencer-s-maga-style-campaign-fell-flat-20250514-p5lz1v.html |access-date=18 November 2025 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=14 May 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250514101229/https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/how-anti-abortion-influencer-s-maga-style-campaign-fell-flat-20250514-p5lz1v.html |archive-date= 14 May 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> She has also worked as a consultant for the International Labour Organization, The McKell Institute, and the former Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency.{{efn|Some time before the passing of the ''Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012'', when the agency was superseded by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency.<ref>{{cite web | title=Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012 | website=Federal Register of Legislation | date=6 December 2012 | url=https://www.legislation.gov.au/C2004A03332/2012-12-06/text | access-date=28 May 2026}}</ref>}}<ref name=cgc/>
In 2010-2011 Howe was employed as a junior dean at St John's College, University of Cambridge, England. In 2012 she was appointed as a lecturer at the University of Adelaide (now Adelaide University) in Adelaide, South Australia. In 2015 she became a senior lecturer, and the following year, associate professor of law. In 2023, she was appointed professor of law at the university.<ref name="UoA-bio"/>
She is an expert in the field of temporary labour migration.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Howe |first1=Joanna |title='Backdoor' working visas are leaving migrants at risk, and the Government's response is discouraging |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-05-06/howe-backdoor-working-visas-are-leaving-migrants-at-risk/6448272 |access-date=18 November 2025 |work=ABC News |date=6 May 2015 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251118041345/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-05-06/howe-backdoor-working-visas-are-leaving-migrants-at-risk/6448272 |archive-date=18 November 2025 |quote=Dr Joanna Howe is a senior lecturer at the University of Adelaide Law School and an expert in temporary labour migration. |url-status=live}}</ref> She led a report by the University of Adelaide on exploitation in the horticulture industry published in March 2019,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sullivan |first1=Kath |last2=Fitzgerald |first2=Bridget |title=Australian farmers' reliance on illegal labour as exploitation is readily accepted, report says |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2019-03-08/farm-labour-report-says-farmers-rely-on-illegal-labour/10881832 |access-date=18 November 2025 |work=ABC News |date=8 March 2019 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251118042010/https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2019-03-08/farm-labour-report-says-farmers-rely-on-illegal-labour/10881832 |archive-date=18 November 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> and participated in an International Labour Organization scholars' workshop on temporary labour migration in November 2019.<ref>{{cite web |title=Perspectives on temporary labour migration |url=https://www.ilo.org/meetings-and-events/perspectives-temporary-labour-migration |publisher=International Labour Organization |access-date=18 November 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251118042348/https://www.ilo.org/meetings-and-events/perspectives-temporary-labour-migration |archive-date=18 November 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Perspectives on Temporary Labour Migration - Participants |url=https://www.ilo.org/sites/default/files/wcmsp5/groups/public/@ed_protect/@protrav/@migrant/documents/genericdocument/wcms_746214.pdf |publisher=International Labour Organization |access-date=18 November 2025 |page=2 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251122213141/https://www.ilo.org/sites/default/files/wcmsp5/groups/public/@ed_protect/@protrav/@migrant/documents/genericdocument/wcms_746214.pdf |archive-date=22 November 2025}}</ref> Along with Martin Parkinson and John Azarias, Howe conducted an inquiry into the immigration system, which was commissioned by Clare O'Neil, the Home Affairs minister, in November 2022.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lapham |first1=Jake |title=Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil calls an inquiry into 'broken' immigration system |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-11-07/federal-government-calls-for-inquiry-broken-immigration-system/101623496 |access-date=22 November 2025 |work=ABC News |date=7 November 2022 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251122064148/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-11-07/federal-government-calls-for-inquiry-broken-immigration-system/101623496 |archive-date=22 November 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Read |first1=Michael |last2=McIlroy |first2=Tom |title=‘Gutsy’ immigration review flags bigger industry role |url=https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/gutsy-immigration-review-flags-bigger-industry-role-20221105-p5bvtk |access-date=22 November 2025 |work=The Australian Financial Review |date=7 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221113175912/https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/gutsy-immigration-review-flags-bigger-industry-role-20221105-p5bvtk |archive-date=13 Nov 2022 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription}}</ref> The report was released in April 2023, and stated that Australia's migration system would require major reform, and advised that a rise in "permanently temporary" migration be curbed.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Grattan |first1=Michelle |author1-link=Michelle Grattan |title=Migration review warns against Australia becoming nation of ‘permanently temporary’ residents |url=https://theconversation.com/migration-review-warns-against-australia-becoming-nation-of-permanently-temporary-residents-204553 |access-date=22 November 2025 |work=The Conversation |date=26 April 2023 |archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20230426123847/https://theconversation.com/migration-review-warns-against-australia-becoming-nation-of-permanently-temporary-residents-204553 |archive-date=26 April 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref>
Howe filed an application with the Fair Work Commission in June 2024 against the University of Adelaide, seeking an order for the dismissal of complaints against her research on abortion and prostitution on academic freedom grounds.<ref name="Kelly-2024">{{cite news |last1=Kelly |first1=Joe |title=Bullying claim over law professor's abortion research |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/bullying-claim-over-law-professors-abortion-research/news-story/3b85748524de1e8b1ff7085492166ef7 |access-date=18 November 2025 |work=The Australian |date=28 June 2024 |url-access=subscription}}</ref>
{{as of |May 2026}} she is a professor of law at the University of Adelaide.<ref name="UoA-bio"/>
==Anti-abortion activism== Howe was involved in the July 2022 formation of the Enid Lyons List, an anti-abortion group which aims to elect young women to political office.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Tomevska |first1=Sara |title=Anti-abortion group accuses media and Greens MLC of 'inciting violence' against young women |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-04/sa-anti-abortion-group-mischaracterisation/101204670 |access-date=18 November 2025 |work=ABC News |date=4 July 2022 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251118044052/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-04/sa-anti-abortion-group-mischaracterisation/101204670 |archive-date=18 November 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Shepherd |first1=Tory| author-link= Tory Shepherd |title=Anti-abortion group claims SA politicians pledged to ‘take forward’ bill reversing new medical laws |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/jul/05/anti-abortion-group-claims-sa-politicians-pledged-to-take-forward-bill-reversing-new-medical-laws |access-date=18 November 2025 |work=The Guardian |date=4 July 2022 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251118043536/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/jul/05/anti-abortion-group-claims-sa-politicians-pledged-to-take-forward-bill-reversing-new-medical-laws |archive-date=18 November 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref>
She worked on and supported a bill by South Australian Liberal MP Ben Hood that would have required those seeking an abortion after 28 weeks of pregnancy to undergo induced labour.<ref>{{cite news |title=Supporters of Liberal MP Ben Hood's amendments to SA's abortion laws rally outside Parliament House |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-09-25/ben-hood-abortion-bill-supporters/104397276 |access-date=18 November 2025 |work=ABC News |date=25 September 2024 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251118045724/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-09-25/ben-hood-abortion-bill-supporters/104397276 |archive-date=18 November 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Starick |first1=Paul |last2=McGuire |first2=Michael |title=Liberal frontbencher Ben Hood’s abortion bill on brink of upper house support |url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/liberal-frontbencher-ben-hoods-abortion-bill-on-brink-of-upper-house-support/news-story/01c2d1eb6a0ade3f59ce930ccd1a7efc |access-date=18 November 2025 |work=The Advertiser |date=24 September 2024 |url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref name="Shepherd-2024a">{{cite news |last1=Shepherd |first1=Tory | author-link= Tory Shepherd |title=Anti-abortion activist targets high-profile SA women with ‘baby-killers club’ social media posts |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/oct/22/anti-abortion-activist-targets-high-profile-sa-women-with-baby-killers-club-social-media-posts-ntwnfb |access-date=18 November 2025 |work=The Guardian |date=21 October 2024 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251118050303/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/oct/22/anti-abortion-activist-targets-high-profile-sa-women-with-baby-killers-club-social-media-posts-ntwnfb |archive-date=18 November 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> The bill failed to pass in the Legislative Council, with MPs in October 2024 voting ten to nine against it.<ref name="Shepherd-2024b">{{cite news |last1=Shepherd |first1=Tory |title=South Australia’s upper house narrowly rejects ‘Trumpian’ bill to wind back abortion care |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/oct/16/south-australias-upper-house-narrowly-rejects-trumpian-bill-to-wind-back-abortion-care |access-date=18 November 2025 |work=The Guardian |date=16 October 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251118051006/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/oct/16/south-australias-upper-house-narrowly-rejects-trumpian-bill-to-wind-back-abortion-care |archive-date=18 November 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> A pairing agreement between Michelle Lensink, who opposed the bill, and Jing Lee, who supported it, was terminated by Lee on the night of the vote, with Dennis Hood agreeing to pair Lensink at the last minute.<ref name="Shepherd-2024b" /> Howe had lobbied Lee to terminate the pair agreement.<ref>{{cite news |title=Anti-abortion campaigner Joanna Howe admits to pressuring Liberal MP Jing Lee to abandon vote-pairing deal |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-30/joanna-howe-admits-to-conversation-with-jing-lee/104535728 |access-date=18 November 2025 |work=ABC News |date=30 October 2024 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251118050812/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-30/joanna-howe-admits-to-conversation-with-jing-lee/104535728 |archive-date=18 November 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> Howe subsequently made social media posts describing seven politicians and advocates, all women who had opposed the bill,{{efn|The seven women listed were deputy premier Susan Close, minister Katrine Hildyard, former Attorney-General Vickie Chapman, SA Best MP Connie Bonaros, then-Greens MP Tammy Franks, and academics Barbara Baird and Katina D'Onise.<ref name="Shepherd-2024a" /><ref name="Blandis-2024" />}} as "baby-killers".<ref name="Shepherd-2024a" /><ref name="Blandis-2024">{{cite news |last1=Blandis |first1=Eva |title=Law professor Joanna Howe stands by 'Baby Killers Club' social media post following abortion law debate |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-23/professor-joanna-howe-labels-politicians-baby-killers/104506948 |access-date=18 November 2025 |work=ABC News |date=23 October 2024 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251118052223/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-23/professor-joanna-howe-labels-politicians-baby-killers/104506948 |archive-date=18 November 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> Terry Stephens, president of the Legislative Council, banned Howe from attending the chamber after the bill's failure, stating that members had witnessed Howe using "threatening and intimidating tactics".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Shepherd |first1=Tory |title=Anti-abortion advocate Joanna Howe banned from South Australia’s upper house for alleged ‘threatening’ tactics towards politicians |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/oct/31/anti-abortion-advocate-joanna-howe-banned-from-south-australias-upper-house-for-alleged-threatening-tactics-ntwnfb |access-date=18 November 2025 |work=The Guardian |date=31 October 2024 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251118053342/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/oct/31/anti-abortion-advocate-joanna-howe-banned-from-south-australias-upper-house-for-alleged-threatening-tactics-ntwnfb |archive-date=18 November 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> Howe denied allegations made against her.<ref>{{cite news |title=Anti-abortion campaigner Joanna Howe banned from parts of South Australia's parliament over alleged 'threatening' tactics |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-31/joanna-howe-barred-from-sa-parliament-upper-house/104545392 |access-date=18 November 2025 |work=ABC News |date=31 October 2024 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251118053505/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-31/joanna-howe-barred-from-sa-parliament-upper-house/104545392 |archive-date=18 November 2025}}</ref>
In a May 2025 parliamentary debate on a proposal by New South Wales Greens MLC Amanda Cohn to expand access to abortion, Liberal leader Mark Speakman stated that Howe had emailed him, promising to lead a public campaign calling for his removal as leader if he supported the bill.<ref name="Pike&O'Doherty-2025">{{cite news |last1=Pike |first1=Elizabeth |last2=O'Doherty |first2=James |title=Premier Chris Minns, Mark Speakman accuse Joanna Howe of spreading misinformation over abortion bill |url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/premier-chris-minns-mark-speakman-accuse-joanna-howe-of-spreading-misinformation-over-abortion-bill/news-story/3743027c4989b3311227339965df887f |access-date=18 November 2025 |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=15 May 2025 |url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref name="Dole-2025">{{cite news |last1=Dole |first1=Nick |title=Bill expanding access to abortion passes both houses of NSW parliament |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-14/mark-speakman-hits-out-over-bullying-in-abortion-bill-debate/105289268 |access-date=18 November 2025 |work=ABC News |date=14 May 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251118055104/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-14/mark-speakman-hits-out-over-bullying-in-abortion-bill-debate/105289268 |archive-date=18 November 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> A number of state and federal MPs also reported having received abusive messages after being targeted by Howe on social media.<ref name=shepherd2025>{{cite news |last1=Shepherd |first1=Tory| author-link= Tory Shepherd |title=State and federal MPs describe death threats and vile abuse in wake of Joanna Howe’s anti-abortion campaign |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/21/state-and-federal-mps-describe-death-threats-and-vile-abuse-in-wake-of-joanna-howes-anti-abortion-campaign-ntwnfb |access-date=18 November 2025 |work=The Guardian |date=20 May 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251118060658/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/21/state-and-federal-mps-describe-death-threats-and-vile-abuse-in-wake-of-joanna-howes-anti-abortion-campaign-ntwnfb |archive-date=18 November 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref>
In September 2025, Howe assisted independent MP Sarah Game to draft a bill to restrict abortions after 23 weeks;<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bermingham |first1=Kathryn |title=Upper House MP Sarah Game launches new push to change SA abortion laws |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-05/sarah-game-introduces-new-abortion-bill-amendments/105734080 |access-date=18 November 2025 |work=ABC News |date=5 September 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251118063722/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-05/sarah-game-introduces-new-abortion-bill-amendments/105734080 |archive-date=18 November 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> this was defeated in November 2025 by a vote of eleven to eight in the Legislative Council.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Shepherd |first1=Tory |title=Bill to restrict abortions later in pregnancy defeated in South Australia after emotional debate |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/nov/13/south-australia-abortion-bill-restrict-late-term-defeated-voted-down |access-date=18 November 2025 |work=The Guardian |date=12 November 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251118063907/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/nov/13/south-australia-abortion-bill-restrict-late-term-defeated-voted-down |archive-date=18 November 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> Lee, who had previously voted for the previous proposal restricting abortion, voted against this bill.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Karakulak |first1=Helen |title=Abortion bill vote spurs member’s change of heart |url=https://www.indailysa.com.au/news/just-in/2025/11/13/abortion-bill-vote-spurs-members-change-of-heart |access-date=18 November 2025 |work=InDaily |date=13 November 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251118064232/https://www.indailysa.com.au/news/just-in/2025/11/13/abortion-bill-vote-spurs-members-change-of-heart |archive-date=18 November 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> In the month leading up to the vote on the Game proposal, Howe spent {{AUD|95,976}} on advertising through Meta, making her the third-largest spender in Australia on Meta advertising, behind UNICEF and Greenpeace Australia Pacific.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Karakulak |first1=Helen |title=SA anti-abortion lobbyist in top three national social media spenders |url=https://www.indailysa.com.au/news/just-in/2025/11/13/sa-anti-abortion-lobbyist-in-top-three-national-social-media-spenders |access-date=18 November 2025 |work=InDaily |date=13 November 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251118070510/https://www.indailysa.com.au/news/just-in/2025/11/13/sa-anti-abortion-lobbyist-in-top-three-national-social-media-spenders |archive-date=18 November 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> She also hosted a fund-raising game on her website, encouraging followers to buy words and phrases<ref name="Karakulak-2025">{{cite news |last1=Karakulak |first1=Helen |title=SA anti-abortion bill writer makes ‘fun game’ fundraiser over vote |url=https://www.indailysa.com.au/news/just-in/2025/11/12/sa-anti-abortion-bill-writer-makes-fun-game-fundraiser-over-vote |access-date=18 November 2025 |work=InDaily |date=12 November 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251118064853/https://www.indailysa.com.au/news/just-in/2025/11/12/sa-anti-abortion-bill-writer-makes-fun-game-fundraiser-over-vote |archive-date=18 November 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> that she described as "the cliched, predictable and evil language used by pro-abortion politicians".<ref name="Shepherd-2025">{{cite news |last1=Shepherd |first1=Tory |title=SA attorney general refers anti-abortion activist Joanna Howe’s fundraiser ‘game’ for investigation |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/nov/13/joanna-howe-anti-abortion-activist-sa-attorney-general-ntwnfb |access-date=18 November 2025 |work=The Guardian |date=13 November 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251118065033/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/nov/13/joanna-howe-anti-abortion-activist-sa-attorney-general-ntwnfb |archive-date=18 November 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> Prizes including cash vouchers and dinner with Howe and her husband.<ref name="Karakulak-2025" /><ref name="Shepherd-2025" /> Kyam Maher, the Attorney-General of South Australia, stated that he would refer the game to Consumer and Business Services, citing concerns with lottery regulation compliance.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Karakulak |first1=Helen |title=SA abortion debate ‘game’ to face probe |url=https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/news/state/sa/2025/11/17/sa-abortion-debate-game |access-date=18 November 2025 |work=The New Daily |date=17 November 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251118065822/https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/news/state/sa/2025/11/17/sa-abortion-debate-game |archive-date=18 November 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref>
In the lead-up to a rally planned for Sydney on 2 June 2026, at which One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce is scheduled to speak, Howe posted an image which she referred to as "twin babies Emma and Ruth", identified by experts as not human foetuses, but those of marsupials. ''The Guardian'' reported that a person claimed they had given this information to Howe as a hoax, to see if she would fact-check it.<ref>{{cite web | last=Shepherd | first=Tory | title=Anti-abortion activist concedes pictures of human foetuses may have been sugar glider joeys | website=The Guardian | date=28 May 2026 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/may/28/anti-abortion-activist-joanna-howe-says-using-hoax-twin-foetuses-doesnt-matter-ntwnfb | access-date=28 May 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Shepherd | first=Tory | title=Image of 'twin babies' used by anti-abortion activist appears to show sugar gliders | website=The Guardian | date=26 May 2026 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/27/anti-abortion-activist-joanna-howe-twin-babies-image-likely-to-show-sugar-gliders-ntwnfb | access-date=28 May 2026}}</ref>
Alexandra Smith, state political editor of ''The Sydney Morning Herald'', wrote that Howe was using "a Trump-style of politics".<ref name="Smith-2025" /> Prudence Flowers, a lecturer in US history at Flinders University and member of the South Australian Abortion Action Coalition, wrote in ''The Conversation'' that Howe's posts on social media were "often adversarial", reflecting a broader shift of "Australian anti-abortionists" towards bolder and more confrontational language following the 2022 US Supreme Court decision that overturned ''Roe v. Wade''.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Flowers |first1=Prudence |title=Hate over love: conservative influencers have brought angrier anti-abortion politics to Australia |url=https://theconversation.com/hate-over-love-conservative-influencers-have-brought-angrier-anti-abortion-politics-to-australia-257444 |access-date=18 November 2025 |work=The Conversation |date=27 May 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251118061729/https://theconversation.com/hate-over-love-conservative-influencers-have-brought-angrier-anti-abortion-politics-to-australia-257444 |archive-date=18 November 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> Howe has been described as adversarial both in person and online,<ref name="Baird et al.-2026"/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Richards |first1=Stephanie |last2=Biggs |first2=Harvey |title=Power, passion and preselection: How social media has influenced South Australia's abortion debate |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-11-02/how-social-media-influenced-south-australias-abortion-debate/104548584 |access-date=19 May 2026 |work=ABC News |date=2 November 2024 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260519072826/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-11-02/how-social-media-influenced-south-australias-abortion-debate/104548584 |archive-date=19 May 2026 |url-status=live}}</ref> where she has focused on digital mobilisation like petitions and emails,<ref name="Baird et al.-2026"/> and Howe herself wrote "I'm not your nice pro-life Christian girl".<ref name=shepherd2025/> Opinion pieces in ''The Catholic Weekly'' have defended Howe.<ref name="Mills-2025">{{cite news |last1=Mills |first1=Ashleigh-Blaise |title=Why Dr Joanna Howe deserves the title Mother of the Year |url=https://catholicweekly.com.au/why-dr-joanna-howe-deserves-the-title-mother-of-the-year/ |access-date=18 November 2025 |work=The Catholic Weekly |date=21 May 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251118062115/https://catholicweekly.com.au/why-dr-joanna-howe-deserves-the-title-mother-of-the-year/ |archive-date=18 November 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Cook |first1=Michael |title=Mummy, Joanna Howe is bullying me |url=https://catholicweekly.com.au/mummy-joanna-howe-is-bullying-me/ |access-date=18 November 2025 |work=The Catholic Weekly |date=15 May 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250515151848/https://catholicweekly.com.au/mummy-joanna-howe-is-bullying-me/ |archive-date=15 May 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref>
==Other activities== From 2015 Howe has been on the board of the Christian organisation Youth Mission Team Australia,<ref name=cgc/><ref name="UoA-bio"/>{{efn|YMT is a Christian organisation for young people, which recruits year 12 graduates to volunteer as full-time youth ministers in schools and parishes for one year following graduating from high school.<ref>{{cite web | title=Who We Are | website=Youth Mission Team | url=https://www.ymt.com.au/who-we-are/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251124054649/https://www.ymt.com.au/who-we-are/ | archive-date=24 November 2025 | url-status=live | access-date=28 May 2026}}</ref>}} and has served on the Research Committee of Women's Forum Australia.<ref name=cgc/>
In 2017, she was on the management committee of the Working Women's Centre.<ref name="UoA-bio"/> From 2021 and ongoing, she has been a member of Ministerial Advisory Council on Skilled Migration, under the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship.<ref name="UoA-bio"/>
She has authored several books as well as many journal articles.<ref name=cgc/><ref name="UoA-bio"/>
== Recognition and awards== * 2015: University of Adelaide Vice-Chancellor's Award for Women's Excellence in Research (a research award worth A$5000)<ref name="UoA-bio"/> * 2015: Executive Dean's Award for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, University of Adelaide<ref name="UoA-bio"/> * 2022: Listed in ''InDaily'''s "40 under 40"<ref name="InDaily-2022">{{cite news |title=A helping hand with good business sense |url=https://www.indailysa.com.au/news/archive/2022/07/04/a-helping-hand-with-good-business-sense |access-date=18 November 2025 |work=InDaily |date=4 July 2022 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251118043028/https://www.indailysa.com.au/news/archive/2022/07/04/a-helping-hand-with-good-business-sense |archive-date=18 November 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=40 Under 40 {{!}} 2022 |url=https://solsticemedia.com.au/40-under-40/40-under-40-2022/ |publisher=Solstice Media |access-date=18 November 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251118042706/https://solsticemedia.com.au/40-under-40/40-under-40-2022/ |archive-date=18 November 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref>
== Personal life == Howe is married to James<ref name=cgc/> and as of 2025 has five children.<ref name="Mills-2025" />
She is a practising Catholic.<ref name=cgc>{{cite web | title=Joanna Howe – G&G Speaker | website=The Catholic Archdiocese of Canberra & Goulburn | date=27 January 2015 | url=https://cgcatholic.org.au/joannahowe/ | access-date=28 May 2026 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170301080727/http://cgcatholic.org.au/joannahowe/|archive-date=1 March 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Baird et al.-2026"/>
==Footnotes== {{notelist}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{official|https://www.drjoannahowe.com.au/}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Howe, Joanna}} {{authority control}} Category:1983 births Category:Living people Category:Australian anti-abortion activists Category:Australian Rhodes Scholars Category:Alumni of the University of Oxford Category:Academic staff of the University of Adelaide