Mothers protest midwifery regulations outside Gillard/Roxon launch in Brisbane today - photos, ABC news video, press release and MC letter to Roxon

Today PM Julia Gillard & Health Minister Nicola Roxon held a mental health funding announcement at the Convention Centre at Southbank, Brisbane. A number of mothers protested outside about our concern with the new midwifery regulations (as described in our previous post).

A HUGE THANK YOU TO everyone who was able to attend at such short notice and to everyone who said they wanted to come but couldn't make it.

See below for photos, a link to ABC News coverage, the press release MC Qld distributed to media afterwards and a link to the letter from Maternity Coalition to Minister Roxon outlining our concerns.









Link to video footage of ABC News story.


MC Qld's Press Release:

Brisbane Mums snubbed by Gillard & Roxon today


At 10.30am this morning a vocal group of Brisbane mothers gathered outside Prime Minister Gillard’s mental health launch at the Brisbane Convention Centre, to protest about doctors' control of midwifery practice and reduction of women's choices as a result of new Federal Government regulations.

“We welcome Julia Gillard’s announcement about increased funding for mental health. Suicide is the leading non-direct cause of death for new mothers. We know that good quality maternity care, including from a known midwife, is likely to be protective against post-natal depression”, said Melissa Fox, West End mother of two and Vice President of consumer group Maternity Coalition’s Queensland Branch.

“Last night a letter of concern was sent from maternity consumer advocacy group Maternity Coalition to Health Minister Roxon. This morning we mothers were very disappointed that neither politician met with us to hear our concerns”.

“The Government has committed $120m to Medicare for midwives. We call on the Government to remove the legislative barrier to enable the reforms to work. No action on the part of the Government would result in no improved access for women to midwifery models care ”.

Click here for the letter sent by Maternity Coalition's National President Lisa Metcalfe to Health Minister Nicola Roxon and cc'ed to Prime Minister Julia Gillard, setting out our concerns with the regulations.