Labor and the Coalition have blocked a vote on a bill that would have banned the shackling of incarcerated women during childbirth, with the government saying it was the responsibility of the states and territories. Independent senator Lidia Thorpe introduced the bills into the Senate, which would prevent shackling and stop children being strip-searched. Queensland Liberal senator Paul Scarr broke ranks to condemn the major parties, describing himself as “deeply concerned” by the Australia-wide practice and vowing to raise it with the Queensland attorney general, Deb Frecklington.
He urged the prime minister to convene a national cabinet meeting. The only data on giving birth while incarcerated was from 2017, when 25 women gave birth. Fifteen years ago, the UN general assembly adopted the Bangkok Rules on the treatment of female prisoners, which state that prison should be a last resort for pregnant women and that “instruments of restraint shall never be used on women during labour, during birth and immediately after birth”.
The rules were adopted unanimously by the general assembly. But around the world, they are regularly flouted. Greens leader, David Shoebridge, was scathing of the two major parties in rejecting the bill.
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