IMPORTANT ELECTION UPDATE -
Hi everyone, I thought I would give you an update on our local electorate:
In the seat of Corangamite (Vic) which is held by Libs by 4.5 % (marginal)
the Greens have negotiated over the past 6-8 weeks with the ALP -
preferences for three key criteria. These include:
1) The end to clearfell logging of the Otways and move into plantations
2) No-fault PI Insurance for all midwives and set up of a community
midwifery program (as women in the Otways have to travel 1- 1.5 hrs to have
their babies if they choose a hospital birth) for the women of Corangamite.
and
3) Ratify Kyoto and change renewable energy bill (2000) to remove woodchips
(biomass) as green power. More wind farms, solar power (remove GST dems &
libs put on the components) and implement rebates for families who use
renewable energy resources eg: GST free, financial incentives etc.
On all three we received a commitment, however on the first one , the alp
also needs to change its forest policy to acheive the outcome.
This is one example of the negotiating that the minor parties can do at
election time. We all have to work very hard to make the major parties
stick to their promises, however, if it is not at the negotiation table,
then it will be very hard to achieve. And I would also suggest, not given
priority as perhaps not considered important enough.
This is the final week before the election, today the Greens will announce
their Women's Policy and I have worked closely with Senator Bob Brown's
office to achieve a national commitment to our mothers and midwives. I will
keep you posted on this.
I have reprinted an article from the Geelong Advertiser below to update re
the announcements made at the state Midwives Support Rally held on last
sunday in Geelong.
MIDWIVES DELIVER CALL FOR FUNDING AND SUPPORT - Reprinted from the Geelong
Advertiser, Monday October 29, 2001 Page 2 - by Mary Papadakis.
Midwives from throughout Victoria converged on Geelong yesterday to call
for more government funding and support.
About 100 health care professionals,women and children held a picnic and
rally in Johnstone Park to raise awareness about the needs of midwives.
Held on the eve of National Homebirth Day, issues including difficulties in
securing professional indemnity insurance and government funding were
discussed.
representatives and guest speakers from organisations including the
Australian College of Midwives Inc, Homebirth Australia, Choices for
Childbirth and the Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-op, took part in the event.
Victorian Greens Senate candidate Scott Kinnear and Corangamite's ALP
contender Michael Bjork-Billings expressed their support for the state's
midwives.
Both federal election hopefuls backed calls for a government-funded
community midwifery program, as had been established in Western Australia,
South Australia and the ACT.
Mr Bjork-Billings said he strongly supported the rights of women to choose
their own method of childbirth and that difficulties among midwives to
secure indemnity insurance should be urgently referred to the Senate
nursing inquiry.
Mr Kinnear said the Government should provide no-fault indemnity insurance
for all midwives, as is the case in New Zealand.
He warned that unless the Government supported midwives struggling to
secure insurance, they could be deregistered by the Nurses Board of
Victoria from next month.
Independent Geelong midwife Sally Westbury, who has helped to bring dozens
of children into the world during the past seven years, said homebirth was
a safe and comfortable option for women.
But Ms Westbury,said both difficulties securing insurance and the financila
barriers to having homebirths, which cost about $1000 including post-natal
care, were reducing women's right to choose.
She said home births were aided by midwives, who offered women continuity
of care and 24-hour support, should be an option for all expectant mothers.
Ms Westbury said she and three other regional midwives participated in an
average of one home birth each month.
Photo: Helping Out - Midwife Sally Westbury has her hands full with some of
her "babies" at Johnstone Park yesterday.
___________________________________________
Also reprinted from The Colac Herald, Wednesday October 31, 2001 Pg 2
CANDIDATE BACKS MIDWIVE'S PROJECTS:
Labor's Corangamite candidate Michael Bjork-Billings would support a
community midwive's program if he won government on November 10.
Mr Bjork-Billings told a midwive's support group meeting at Geelong that
the government-funded program would provide women with continuity of care
through pregnancy, birth and post-natal care of infants.
Independent midwife Sally Westbury said the program would be "a first" for
Victoria.
"Programs of this nature are already running in several states", Ms
Westbury said.
"The program in Western Australia has been going for several years", she
said.
About 250 people from Geelong, Ballarat, Apollo Bay and Melbourne attended
the meeting and discussed issues including midwive's indemnity insurance
and a lack of surgeons in rural areas.
Photo - Good turnout: A midwive's meeting attracted more than 250
people.
________________________________________________
That's it for now, Sorry this email is lengthy, but it is intended to give
an update for this part of oz.
Kind Regards,
Sally-Anne Brown
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