The Maternity Services Reform process that promised so much to so many, is now at risk from the medical lobby, who would strip many women of birth choices and options that are currently open to them.

Nicola Roxon yesterday announced amendments to the midwifery legislation that is currently before Parliament which will fundamentally redefine the nature of midwifery in Australia particularly homebirth midwifery. The new clause requires midwives to enter into “collaborative arrangements with medical practitioners" in order to access the new arrangements. It effectively appoints private obstetricians and GP obstetricians as the gatekeepers for access to private midwifery care in Australia. This amendment requires midwives to have a “collaborative arrangement” in place at all times. If a midwife is unable to comply she will face loss of registration, insurance and Medicare.

How will it be possible for independent private practice midwives to support women to birth at home or in hospital? How will it be possible to expand options of midwifery care such as birth centres? How can home birth midwives "collaborate" with practitioners who do not believe that home birth should be available as a model of care for women?

Medical practitioners have powerful cultural and financial incentives to disable private midwifery and de-rail other models of midwifery care. The Australian Medical Association (AMA) have widely and publicly condemned homebirth and vilified privately practicing midwives. The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (RANZCOG) expressly state that they do not support homebirth or freestanding birth centres.

RANZCOG position statement on home birth reads –
“The College does not support Home Birth or ‘Free-standing’ Birth Centres (without adjacent obstetric and neonatal facilities) as appropriate Health Care Settings."
"Home birth should not be offered as a Model of Care".

Come, rally with us! Raise your voice to tell the leaders of this government that women must retain the right to choose, where, how and with whom they give birth.

Politicians need to understand that we will not take the erosion of women’s basic rights lying back in stirrups, and we are not going to go away. We have written thousands of submissions. We have petitioned Health Minister Nicola Roxon directly through thousands of emails and phone calls. We have protested in record numbers outside Parliament House in Canberra. Roxon is not listening and she is failing Australian women and their families.

We are asking Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard and Tanya Plibersek to guarantee that Australian women’s birthing rights are protected.

Please come and make a stand.