Homebirth Australia Press Release regarding illegality of homebirth

Health Minister Denies Women their basic rights

Homebirth Australia today slammed the exclusion of homebirth from insurance
schemes for midwives announced by the Health Minister Nicola Roxon in
parliament today.

"Effectively two pieces of legislation will outlaw midwives providing
homebirth care from July 2010" said Justine Caines, mother of seven and
secretary of Homebirth Australia.

"Women will continue to homebirth, but will now be forced to do so without
the assistance of a qualified professional." said Ms Caines.


"It is unacceptable and unsafe to force a woman into a choice that is not
optimal for her, whether that is a hospital birth or a birth at home without
midwifery support. It is absolutely impossible to understand the
government's position on this, other than to say that they have bowed to
political pressure from medical lobby groups."


The National Maternity Service Review received submissions from hundreds of
women wanting access to homebirth services. The vast majority of homebirth
services are provided by private practice midwives. Removing this option is
likely to end access for most women to homebirth.


Ms Caines called on all ALP members to declare their view on a woman's right
to self determination of her health care needs. "If the ALP is so hell bent
on preventing women from accessing homebirth as an option I ask all ALP
members to publically state their position on this.


It appears that having a Health Minister who is a woman, a recent mother,
and a lawyer understanding consumers' rights, is not proving to be an
advantage for women. Removing women's rights to the point where we are back
providing care in dark alleys or in back rooms is ridiculous in 2009."