Budget May 09 Historic for Maternity Services

I've been campaigning and lobbying for maternity services reform for the past seven years so to hear tonight's budget announcement that Maternity Services was going to be given a 120million boost by the Federal Government was food for my weary soul.
In the past seven years I have spent countless hours writing letters, articles, visiting politicians, attending meetings, attending conferences, speaking at conferences and seminars, summoning support from other organisations and responding to media inquiries. All this I have done while raising three children, working part time to support my campaigning and trying to do all those things "normal" mothers do like take my kids to Scouts, or Tae Kwon Do.... Quite frankly, I'm exhausted.
The onus is now on women to keep asking for what we want. As our CANA poll shows quite clearly, women want the full spectrum of choice. The budget delivered but they are still ignoring the need to fund homebirth. If women having elective caesareans can have their choice funded then it is only fair that women seeking a home birth have access to the same.
Anyway, tonight is a historic night and all who have contributed to the campaign to improve Australia's maternity services should be proud. Our thanks goes to Nicola Roxon who had the courage to follow through... let's hope this is just the beginning.
Cas McCullough
National Spokesperson
CANA