A recent review of the country’s maternity services recommended the Federal Government overhaul the power given to midwives.
If accepted by Health Minister Nicola Roxon’s department, some midwives could be given access to many benefits doctors have – like Medicare, drug prescribing rights and even professional indemnity insurance.
But the review made clear that those midwives who assist in homebirths should not be supported as a mainstream birth option.
http://cfd.net.au/home/20090402/article/mothers-defend-right-to-home-birth