Changes to insurance requirements for midwives are a matter of life and death for mothers and babies.
Midwives attending homebirths are currently exempt from holding professional indemnity insurance (PII). The exemption is due to expire on 31 December 2026.
After this date all midwives attending homebirths will be required to hold PII.
This creates barriers to accessing homebirths because of increased costs, and also because many of the required second attendants will not be eligible for the insurance.
If the exemption is not continued, a third of private practising midwives plan to exit the industry.
Following questions from Senator Vanessa Bleyer, the Senate Select Committee on Women's Health was told on November 2 that not continuing the exemption would be a matter of life and death for mothers and children.
Three in five women say they would consider freebirths, birthing at home without any medical assistance, while one in three say they would not have any more children if they could not access homebirth services.
This would disproportionately impact women in rural and remote areas.
The Senate Select Committee on Women's Health will continue its inquiry through 2027, with the initial round of hearings focused on post-partum care.
As stated by Greens Senator for Lutruwita/Tasmania Vanessa Bleyer:
"The government has heard for years that removing the PII exemption for midwives will cause no end of issues, but it continues to kick the can down the road.
"Make no mistake, removing the exemption will not reduce the number of women giving birth at home.
"What it will do is increase the number of women giving birth at home without a midwife, increasing the risks to mothers and babies particularly in rural and remote communities.
"The exemption must be extended and a permanent solution developed, allowing women to keep accessing safe homebirths and retaining a vital skilled workforce."
