Member for Northern Tablelands, Brendan Moylan, has called for a Parliamentary inquiry into maternity services in rural and regional areas of New South Wales.
On Wednesday, Mr Moylan submitted a Notice of Motion in the NSW Parliament, urging the government to explore bundled funding for maternity care, establish an advisory group on rural health, and commission an inquiry into maternity services in regional NSW.
“Country mums, particularly those in the Northern Tablelands, deserve the opportunity to give birth in their hometowns,” Mr Moylan said.
Since the 1990s, more than half of the maternity and children’s health services in rural and regional NSW have been closed. According to Mr Moylan, this decline has led to an increase in births before arrival (BBA), where women give birth en route to healthcare facilities, often without trained staff or appropriate medical equipment.
He also highlighted the financial and emotional burden placed on families when expectant mothers are required to relocate to urban centres for childbirth.
“This situation is not acceptable,” he said. “Urgent intervention is needed, including the restoration of maternity services, expansion of midwifery care, and greater support for rural families. The NSW Government must act to improve maternity care in regional and remote areas.”
Mr Moylan has also met with rural maternal health advocate Jen Laurie, who has launched a Parliamentary ePetition calling for action on the issue. The petition requires 20,000 signatures to be debated in Parliament.
Residents can sign the ePetition online to support the initiative. Click here to access the petition.
