Trillian, so true - this govt is more concerned with getting mothers back to work sooner and our children diverted to childcare for raising and nurturing than supporting women in doing it themselves (and shame on them for holding out on the ABA)! I think a huge factor is the power of the AMA and RANZCOG in Oz. Without them, midwives would surely be on the Medicare program by now, surely.
I DO like the idea of appealing to the govt that our colonial cousins are outdoing us in maternal and child health outcomes! Bring on the national pride factor