Thorpe bills to ban shackling of prisoners giving birth
Prisoners are shackled to hospital beds during labour. State laws restrict this practice to last-resort situations, yet it continues.
Lidia Thorpe is an independent senator from Victoria who introduced a private member's bill to ban shackling of pregnant prisoners during labour. The practice continues across Australian prisons despite state and territory laws that restrict it to last resort or when absolutely necessary.
Prisoners are cuffed to hospital beds by the arm and leg. Chains shackle their legs together during labour.
This often prevents them from properly holding their newborn child. Advocates and former prisoners describe the trauma of giving birth while restrained.
They describe being separated from babies right after birth and lasting psychological damage. Thorpe cited Heather Calgaret as an example.
Calgaret is a Yamatji, Noongar, Wongi and Pitjantjatjara woman. She gave birth shackled in 2019.
Her baby was removed days later. She died in custody in 2021.
Why it mattersThe practice violates the human rights of mothers and newborns. It causes psychological and health consequences that last for years.
AustraliaPregnant women in Australian prisons are currently shackled during labour, a practice that Thorpe's bill aims to end through federal law.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 3 d ago
