RDAA chief executive officer, Steve Sant, said maternity services in rural areas have been under increasing pressure over the past decade with at least 50 per cent of rural maternity units closed down

“Pregnant rural women are increasingly having to travel great distances to give birth,” Mr Sant said.

“Indigenous women also continue to have much worse birthing outcomes.

The Maternity Services Review Report provides an opportunity for all stakeholders to focus urgently on getting much-needed maternity services back into the bush.

“Many studies have shown that it is very safe for mothers to give birth in rural centres and, for low-risk births, actually safer than the large metropolitan hospitals,” Mr Sant said.

“What is needed now is a strong commitment from the federal and state governments to reopen and support maternity units in rural Australia.”

Following the release of the report Federal Health Minister, Nicola Roxon, announced major potential reforms for Australian maternity services, including Medicare access for midwives.

Reforming childbirth is a political battle that has spanned generations, involved 38 state and federal inquiries.

Mother of four and New South Wales State President of Maternity Coalition, Lisa Metcalf, said the Australian Medical Association has shown how out of step it is with the needs of women by objecting to improving services.

“We note that women will not be able to make a full complement of choice, and that there is the potential for homebirth to become illegal (come July 2010 when national registration of all health providers requires indemnity insurance),“ said Ms Metcalfe.

“We are confident that Minister Roxon will not allow this. We believe she will work with groups like ours to ensure all birthing options remain available to all women. By enabling private homebirths we will see not only a more cost effective private insurance option, but one that is more supportive of the needs of modern women.