In response to your comment Fionaw..

Quote: As explained earlier, under the proposed legislation Midwives who attend home births will not be eligible for insurance. If they don't have insurance they won't be able to attend hospitals, use medicare benefits numbers etc. End Quote:

Homebirth won't be illegal, in that you are correct. However if a private practising midwife attends a homebirth without insurance (which they cannot get due to the Govt not assisting them as they do Obstetricians and institution employed midwives) then they will be de-registered and a fine of up to $30000 can apply. Private practising Midwives don't attend hospital for birth and if they transfer with their birthing mother then their role reverts to that of a support person only anyway.

So yes, homebirth will not be illegal. We can homebirth but if we do we will have to do this unassisted without trained midwives thus removing our choice for a safe homebirth. I'm not interested in birthing at home unassisted and whilst I respect a womans choice to do just that I would also hope that my choice to birth assisted by a trained midwife with or without insurance in my home would also be respected.

Quote: It seems to me that the home birth movement are absolutely sensationalising their campaign and putting around misinformation that home births will be 'illegal'. There is no proposal to outlaw home births under any law around the country. End Quote:

There is no need for us to sensationalise this topic. Every man, woman and child should be concerned that our government is taking steps to remove our right to choose. It may be safe homebirthing now, but what happens when it's something that is close to your heart and your dream. Will it be so sensationalist then.