I have been following with interest the recent developments on the Australian birth front and I must say I am quite dismayed by the Federal Government's decision to introduce a number of new Bills into parliament that have set the stage to make home birth illegal in Australia by July 2010. 

Under the new bills Midwives will no longer be allowed to attend homebirths due to the new national registration of health professionals that requires professional indemnity insurance, which is not available to midwives at present. If these bills become legislation, independent midwives choosing to attend a home birth will face a hefty $30k fine and/or 6 years in jail.

We need to take action NOW to stop these bills becoming legislation. 

The choice of where and with whom to give birth should be open to each woman, as it is in other countries such as New Zealand and the UK. Many studies have demonstrated time and again the safety of home birthing for both the mother and the baby, when attended by a professional midwife. Removing this choice without consideration of birthing women is undemocratic at best and irresponsible at worst. I believe that if these bills become legislation, home birthing in Australia will be driven underground, exposing women to the dangers of giving birth alone. 

Visit www.homebirthaustralia.org for information on how you can take action against these bills.