Under the photo is the link to the interview with Justine Caines.
About 300 women and children and a sprinkling of men turned out in showery conditions outside Mr Rudd’s Morningside office this morning.
Many waved placards, pushed prams or carried babies in their arms.
Speakers told the rally that women should have the right to decide how they give birth.
Those present say amendments to the Medicare for Midwives Bill will result in a medical veto over midwifery practice and home births.
They have challenged the Mr Rudd and Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon to stand up to the Australian Medical Association (AMA) and remove the amendment.
Australian College of Midwives president Jenny Gamble told the rally an amendment to the ‘Medicare for Midwives’ Bill will give doctors the choice about how women give birth.
“They want to be able to control midwifery care, they want us as handmaidens, they want us under their direction,” she said.
Other speakers included a home-birth dad.
“I think the male paradigm - that is the AMA way of thinking - is not doing women good service,” he said.
Protesters say they will continue fighting the amendment into next year.
What a shame this wasn’t publicised, I would have loved to join in (I live in Brisbane, and feel very strongly about this issue) but I didn’t hear anything about it.
It was organised with only two days notice. If you join our cause on Facebook, this is where we send out all news of upcoming events or email Jane Palmer at jane@pregnancy.com.au as Jane sends out campaign updates periodically. Thanks for comment. Its such a shame there wasn’t more time to organise more people.