Ged Kearney (Cooper, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That this bill be now read a second time.

I am very pleased to introduce the Midwife Professional Indemnity (Commonwealth Contribution) Scheme Amendment Bill 2024, or the bill.

This bill amends the Midwife Professional Indemnity (Commonwealth Contribution) Scheme Act 2010, or the act, to expand the existing Midwife Professional Indemnity Scheme.

The bill provides a framework under which the government will pay 100 per cent of eligible claims for relevant intrapartum services provided outside of a hospital. This expansion of the MPIS aims to ensure professional indemnity insurance coverage for:

The bill provides scope for rules to be made to specify the intrapartum services covered under the expanded MPIS. The government's broad intent is to cover out-of-hospital intrapartum services where they are provided in compliance with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia's Safety and Quality Guidelines for Privately Practising Midwives. This approach supports the delivery of safe and accessible care.

This bill represents a significant step forward in supporting midwives and improving access to safe and culturally appropriate maternity services for women across Australia. Midwifes are a crucial part of Australia's health system. As a mother, a grandmother and nurse, I've seen their care, professionalism, empathy and the difference they make firsthand. This bill is recognition of that.

For too long, eligible midwives practicing in out-of-hospital settings have faced barriers to accessing professional indemnity insurance. This has limited their ability to provide essential services, such as homebirths and intrapartum care outside of hospitals, and has restricted the choices available to women in their birthing journeys.

This bill addresses these longstanding gaps by expanding the Midwife Professional Indemnity Scheme. It ensures that eligible midwives, including those providing services under a birthing-on-country model, have access to the financial protection they need to confidently practice to their full scope.

The bill achieves this by requiring the Commonwealth to cover 100 per cent of the cost of eligible claims made against eligible midwives for incidents arising from out-of-hospital births. This includes homebirths and intrapartum care outside hospital conducted in accordance with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia's Safety and Quality Guidelines for Privately Practising Midwives.

Importantly, the bill also extends this 100 per cent Commonwealth coverage to eligible entities, such as Aboriginal community controlled health organisations, that employ midwives to provide birthing-on-country services. This ensures that these vital services, which are crucial for improving the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mothers and babies, can be delivered with appropriate insurance coverage.

The amendments in this bill will take effect from 1 July 2025, providing a permanent solution to the insurance gaps that have hindered midwives and limited birthing choices for women.

This bill is about empowering Australia's hardworking midwives, supporting women and mothers, and ensuring equitable access to continuous, culturally safe maternity care. It is a testament to our commitment to strengthening Australia's healthcare system and improving the health outcomes for mothers, their babies and all Australians.

Debate adjourned.