What are the laws regarding giving birth without a registered midwife? I know in England its illegal, is it the same here?
Who told you that homebirth without a registered midwife in attendance was illegal? It is not to my knowledge. I'd like to see the law where it states it is illegal if one even exists!

As for Australian law, it is illegal for anyone to practice as a midwife when they are NOT a registered midwife. So that makes lay midwivery illegal. Having support people at your birth does not make it illegal because they are merely there for support, not to carry out any medical diagnosis or protocols. There are plenty of people who have freebirthed on the Mothering community from Australia and the UK. There is an Australian website about purebirth that discusses legalities, women's rights and how to go about obtaining birth certificates for homebirths without midwives in attendance.