About 150 protesters rallied outside Sydney Federal MP Tanya Plibersek’s Surry Hills office to oppose changes to Federal Government home birth legislation.
The My Body, My Baby, My Right to Decide rally, at the Minister for the Status of Women’s office, was one of 14 to take place across Australia on Thursday last week.
Women unhappy with the federal Government’s Medicare for Midwives Bill protested last Thursday outside the offices of local member Tanya Plibersek, saying the Bill would drive midwifery underground. About 150 turned up with nearly as many children in tow.
About 150 protesters rallied outside Sydney Federal MP Tanya Plibersek’s Surry Hills office to oppose Federal Government legislation to ban home births.
The My Body, My Baby, My Right to Decide rally, at the Minister for the Status of Women’s office, was one of 14 to take place across Australia on Thursday last week.
A group of mothers, daughters and quite a few babies gathered outside Member for Macquarie Bob Debus’ electorate office in Katoomba on February 18 in a show of solidarity for home birthing.
After intense lobbying from the Australian Medical Association, Health Minister Nicola Roxon has given the green light to Doctors having the final say in the choices women make during pregnancy and birth. Women choosing a midwife at hospital or at home will have their basic rights to informed consent and refusal removed, replaced with medical veto.
National Day of Action details for 18 February 2010
Protest gathering outside AMA Victoria office in Wed 20 March.
I am just home from the Rudd rally in Brisbane (ah the joys of living in rural NSW!).
I was so proud to be part of the birth reform movement today, so many wonderful women who came at short notice to yet again support homebirth and women’s rights.
“It will mean the death of home birthing if these amendments go through,” she said. “Midwives will be dependent on the approval of doctors for access to Medicare rebates… doctors will also have the right to veto a woman’s choice of care.”
Ms O’Driscoll said that the proposed amendment would result in more revenue for GPs.
Hundreds of WA women and children gathered outside Federal MP Stephen Smith’s Inglewood office this morning to protest changes to maternity services which they say will make home births illegal.
The women and children, many of whom were brought into the world through a home birth, joined other rallies across the nation outside the offices of Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard and Tanya Plibersek.