Constituency Statements – Maternity Consumer Network Petition – Speech in the Federation Chamber 12/08/2026

Mr LLEW O’BRIEN (Wide Bay) (09:54): I speak in support of petition EN10266, which was launched by Alecia Staines and the Maternity Consumer Network, with regard to professional indemnity insurance arrangements for endorsed midwives. Australian laws require two midwives to attend every home birth, and from 2027 the second attendant is also required to hold midwifery endorsement. This might seem to be a simple regulatory matter, but for many women it affects something absolutely fundamental: the right to choose where and how they give birth. Many people currently fulfilling this role are not endorsed midwives. They are experienced hospital midwives, nurses and ambulance officers. These second attendants average four home births each year.

For many, the time, cost and insurance requirements needed to obtain endorsement are a barrier. With only 1,742 endorsed midwives across Australia and almost half of all home births occurring in rural and regional areas, these changes risk making home births inaccessible. This petition calls for a transitional exemption until the end of 2027 and for meaningful consultation to assess the economic safety and psychological impacts. Women deserve birthing choice, regional Australians deserve access to the same maternity options that are available in cities, and this petition deserves strong support.