The Australian Greens said on International Day of the Midwife that while there had been significant progress in supporting the work of midwives particularly in advances with indemnity insurance there was still more to do.
The Greens are continuing their push for the Federal Government to expand the Commonwealth scheme for indemnity insurance to midwives who provide assistance to women who chose to have their babies at home.

The Greens support the rights of women to choose homebirths with the assistance of a midwife and will continue pushing the Government for a permanent resolution to this issue,” Australian Greens Health Spokesperson Senator Rachel Siewert said today.

“Extending an exception for the indemnity insurance requirement and registration for midwives proving care to those supporting homebirths for the next two years is just a temporary solution, it doesn’t provide a long term solution. We also remain concerned about the recent changes giving doctors the ability to effectively veto a midwife supporting homebirths.

"We always advocate for families to have choices in regards to their health care, people should have equal access to care and support, regardless of which form of care they choose.

"The Government’s approach to homebirths undermines the role of midwives and the capacity for women to choose.

"We will continue to fight for greater choice and support for those midwives providing high quality home care for Australians,” Senator Siewert concluded.