Thursday 25 June 2009

Nicola Roxon's bill to outlaw a woman's rights to choose to birth at home with the midwife of her choice

Can everyone please write to Nicola Roxon and tell her (politely, but strongly) what her bill has meant to you?
The Hon Nicola Roxon MP
Minister for Health and Ageing
Australian Government
PO Box 6022
House of Representatives
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Email: nicola.roxon.mp@aph.gov.au

and write to your local federal politician. Google his/her name and you will get their contact details.

Wednesday 24 June 2009

Women's rights further eroded - Homebirth denied

Today our health minister, Nicola Roxon introduced two Bills to Parliament. One of these bills eroded women's rights to choose to birth at home with the midwife of her choice. This is unacceptable.

It is not acceptable to treat women this way. Every woman deserves to have the choice to employ her own midwife or to access the health service offerings, to choose her place of birth and to be supported in her choice.

Women are citizens of Australia. We are thinking, autonomous beings and want sovereignty over our bodies.

Who got to Nicola? Who over-rode her innate understanding of women's rights?

What do we need to do differently to get this to change?

Wednesday 17 June 2009

Homebirth Rally at Parliament House Monday September 7th 1130am

Put this date in your diary and come with us! This is a critically important rally. The changes in Medicare rebates and the fine print is pointing to the demise of private midwifery and women's choices for birthing at home. For everyone who cares about women's rights to birth where they want and with whom they want, this rally is a must attend. We must show the politicians and the people of Australia that women matter, birth matters and choice is imperative.

The following message is from Justine Caines, an awesome woman and mother who has campaigned tirelessly for women's choices in birth.

HOME - EVERY WOMAN’S BIRTH RIGHT – RALLY FOR HOMEBIRTH – MONDAY SEPTEMBER 7 2009, PARLIAMENT HOUSE CANBERRA

Homebirth Australia is hosting a MAJOR rally in Canberra (outside Parliament House) on Monday September 7 from 11.30am.

There has been much discussion about the potential outlawing of homebirth and the continued lack of equity for women choosing homebirth.

We need this to be BIG. When I met with the federal department of Health they commented on the huge number of submissions (900 of which over half came from homebirth consumers). Sadly I said if you outlaw homebirth I will lead 9000 angry women and babies to Canberra!

Now 9000 may be a tall order but we need thousands.

For all the women and midwives that have contacted and said this issue matters please put it in your diary.

There is lots to organise and we look forward to many providing ideas and support.

The states close to Canberra will be called on to provide as many as possible to attend.

It would be great to have at least a few from every state and territory.

Please forward this meeting far and wide.

Details will soon be on the HBA website.

www.homebirthaustralia.org

For any other info please email justine.caines@bigpond.com