Under a State Government pilot program to be established at two Melbourne hospitals, midwives assisting home births will be covered by their hospital's indemnity insurance.
Anyone know which two Melbourne hospitals?

it simply will not replace the experience and level of care as you get with a private midwife
A public funded homebirth system may have issues, but i don't think you can have a blanket statement that midwifes working in the public system can not be as experienced or caring as one that is privately funded.

Not all midwifes working in the public system would want to work with homebirthing women, but those who do (most probably) would be committed to the cause for ALL women who choose home to give birth, regardless of ability to pay.