Home birth protest

By Tania Martin
A GROUP of hills mothers joined thousands of others to protested on the steps of Federal Parliament last week against a proposed law to fine midwives who assist with home births.
Their protest comes as the Federal Government debated a proposed new legislation that by June 2012 would make it illegal for midwives to assist with home births without indemnity insurance.
Home birth midwives are currently unable to obtain indemnity insurances as they represent a small portion of the workforce.
If approved the new law would lead to midwives being fined $30,000 or facing two years’ jail if they are caught practising without insurance.
La Trobe MP Jason Wood told Parliament last Tuesday (8 September) that the government was delaying implementing the law until after the next election.
Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon defended the move earlier this year, saying the legislation would provide Medicare funding for midwives for the first time.
This deal would provide insurance for midwives who work in hospitals.
Ms Roxon said if home births were included it would be unaffordable.
Upwey’s Narelle Key, joined forces with 15 other hills mothers to have their say. She said it was unfair the government was taking away her right to choose.
Ms Key has had both a home and hospital birth.
“I had my son in hospital and had a lot of interventions which made it a lot harder for me and I suffered with post natal depression,” she said.
“But I had a home birth for my daughter and it was such a good way to do it.” Ms Key said the legislation would enable women to have a midwife birth in hospital but with a raft of guidelines. “We want to be able to choose the midwife we want at home,” she said.
The legislation has been passed through the lower house and is expected to go before the Senate this week.