Mr WOOD - 2001-10-18
Recently, my office has been approached by a number of people who are involved in home births. They are concerned that Guild Insurance is intending to cease insuring independently practising midwives who specialise in home births. Guild Insurance appears to be the only company in Australia who will insure these people. Has this government been aware of this threat to women having a choice of where they wish to give birth to their children, and will the government be doing anything to try and rectify the situation?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the honourable member for his question. I recently met with representatives of Northern Territory midwives, and am supportive of their concerns. I asked my department to provide me with a comprehensive brief containing options for resolution of this matter, which it has done. Discussions and negotiations are currently occurring between the department and the midwives, and I would be very happy to offer the member for Nelson a brief on this matter.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the honourable member for his question. I recently met with representatives of Northern Territory midwives, and am supportive of their concerns. I asked my department to provide me with a comprehensive brief containing options for resolution of this matter, which it has done. Discussions and negotiations are currently occurring between the department and the midwives, and I would be very happy to offer the member for Nelson a brief on this matter.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016